Boxing: NZ boxers' Games success drives Mailata's dream

Patrick Mailata says he has always set challenges for himself and he wants a Games gold medal. Photo / Sarah Ivey

As Joseph Parker continues his ascension up the heavyweight ranks, another promising Kiwi pugilist is preparing to step out from the shadow of his friend.

Patrick Mailata will watch his "good mate" fight Brian Minto tonight, before resuming an arduous training schedule ahead of this month's Commonwealth Games.

The 19-year-old is set to compete in the 91+ kilogram super heavyweight division in Glasgow, part of a nine-strong New Zealand boxing team hoping to add to this country's 30 medals in the sport.

The most recent to bring home a medal was Shane Cameron, who took bronze at Manchester 2002, and Mailata has his eyes on being the next Kiwi heavyweight to roll off an impressive recent production line.

"I fought Joseph Parker while trialling for the [London] Olympics and, while he got the upper hand, it was always a good competition," Mailata said. "Coming up just after Joseph, there's a lot to live up to, because he did really great as an amateur.

"For me to come after a guy like that, and even guys like David Tua and Shane Cameron who all did well as amateurs, it puts a lot of pressure on you to do well."

In Glasgow Mailata is targeting nothing short of the gold medal. While the amateur ranks bring an element of the unknown, Mailata is confident a combination of gruelling preparation and natural ability will help him to achieve that goal.

He recently returned from Australia after undertaking extensive sparring against former World Series of Boxing fighter Trent Rawlins. That experience left Mailata full of belief in his prospects of returning from the Games with a prize.

"You don't really know what to expect until you get there. But I'll just be backing my ability to box, my ability that I'm blessed with to move around with my feet.

"I have full faith in my set of skills and going there, knowing that, gives me confidence to do what I do."

That set of skills has been honed in a relatively short time, with Mailata beginning in boxing only after picking up a rugby league injury at the age of 15. Six months of being unable to run left the teenager looking for another avenue in sport and his father, a former boxer, turned him towards the sweet science.

"After a few months of getting hidings, I had to learn how to box and I found that I actually love it. I went in there thinking it was just fighting, but the more I got into it, the more I knew it was about using your tactics and your eyes and things like that."

Mailata, a former head boy at Papakura High School, continued that education in the ring, turning down a number of contract offers from NRL clubs drawn to his impressive physique.

"[Boxing] is a harder challenge, not taking anything away from the guys who play league. It's a lot tougher mentally, physically, financially - it's a tough game.

"And I've always been the kind of kid who always wants to challenge himself - I've always wanted to go through the hard way."

The next step on that path will be a place at the Rio Olympics, with Mailata set to spurn reported interest from Duco and remain an amateur, before beginning a quest to reach the top of the sport.

"I'm looking forward to becoming a pro one day," he said. "When I was a kid I always dreamt of being someone like David Tua, or even better."