Joe smokin’ for Rio tilt
BRISBANE’S big and brilliant Joe Goodall took another giant stride towards the Rio Olympics with a resounding victory over hulking Kiwi Patrick Mailata for the Oceania superheavyweight gold medal in Canberra yesterday.
The 105kg Goodall, a silver medallist last year at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, showed the experience gained from sparring some of the world’s top fighters as he outboxed his dangerous opponent in all three rounds at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Goodall, 23, has been part of the British team in the World Series of Boxing tournament and last year sparred with American Malik Scott and Logan’s Alex Leapai in torrid sessions in Brisbane.
Yesterday’s win was a great relief for the humble champion who has battled to overcome the effects of glandular fever for more than a year. He will now represent Australia at the World Amateur Championships in Qatar in October.