Kiwi boxer plans to hold on to Joshua’s gloves
Patrick Mailata knows a pair of gloves signed by Anthony Joshua is a pretty hot commodity right now.
But the Kiwi super heavyweight amateur boxer wants to etch out his own piece of history at the Commonwealth Games first before he goes ahead with his plan to auction off the gloves.
The 23-year-old got a bunch of gear signed and gifted to him by the now-fourtime heavyweight champion after sparring with him in the leadup to Sunday’s win over his compatriot, Joseph Parker.
‘‘He gave me a few pairs [of gloves] and signed all my WSB [World Series of Boxing] gear that I gave to my coaches and mentors back home,’’ Mailata said from the Gold Coast yesterday as he prepares for his Commonwealth Games campaign.
‘‘I was looking to auction my Golden Gloves, the ones I fought in and stopped my opponent. I went in and got Josh to sign them, but I’m looking to hold onto them a little longer, get myself a medal and then try and flip them for a bit more to put more money into my further camps and further my career.’’ Mailata was sparring with Joshua due to the fact they were both training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Mailata was part of the WSB franchise called the British Lionhearts, alongside fellow Kiwi Commonwealth Games fighter David Nyika.
He described Joshua as a ‘‘down to earth dude’’ and said he enjoyed watching the fight on Sunday, even though Parker lost.
‘‘Like every other Kiwi, I was hoping our boy would bring it home. He went out there and put in a big effort.’’
Mailata has come from the same Papatoetoe gym of Grant Arkell which nurtured Parker in his early days, and fought Parker twice at the start of his amateur career.
He counts David Tua as an idol and, being of Samoan descent, said both Tua and Parker had blazed a path he could see himself following.
‘‘I love this game, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I want to hold belts, I want to do the same stuff Joe and David Tua have done, put our country on the map.
‘‘These are the stepping stones I need to take in my amateur career first before I think about [going pro].
‘‘Gold medal is No 1. Nothing else will please me, my supporters and my family.’’
Mailata lost in the first round at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and faces some stern opposition in the 91kg+ class on the Gold Coast, coming in ranked fourth of the 10 fighters in the AIBA rankings.
The other feature of Monday’s boxing press conference was Nyika - who won gold in Glasgow - showing up with a new, bleach blond hairdo.
‘‘I need some extra style points, maybe if I paint my hair gold I’ll get another gold medal,’’ he said.
‘‘They call me a pint of Guinness now, long, dark and strong.’’