Brave Mailata goes down swinging

Big Patrick Mailata did everything but win his 91+kg semi-final boxing bout tonight.

Mailata lost a split decision to Englishman Frazer Clarke, despite taking standing counts in the first and third rounds.

The scoring couldn’t have been closer. Three judges had it for Clarke 29-28 and two for Mailata 29-28.

Clarke was a slightly more educated boxer, but Mailata was constantly looking to attack and packed impressive power.

Near the end of the third round, the fight turned into a barnyard brawl and both men landed some heavy blows.

Mailata said he thought it was “a heck of a fight”.

“It was good to be part of a fight like that,” he said. “I thought we were one round apiece and in the last 20 seconds I nearly knocked him down.

“We had a great slugfest at the end.”

Mailata is a much improved boxer on the 19-yearold who finished out of the medals in Glasgow four years ago.

The relieved Englishman said Mailata was “a tough opponent, a great opponent”.

He said the result was too close for his liking and was relieved to get the judges’ nod.

Despite the loss, Mailata comes away from the Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal.