Grant Arkell, pictured in 2020. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The man who first trained former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker among other boxing greats, Grant Arkell, has passed away aged 77.
Arkell was one of the most respected boxing trainers in New Zealand and opened the Papatoetoe Boxing Gym in 1990, which during its tenure was home to one of the greatest fighters the country has produced.
He began training a 10-year-old Parker at the Papatoetoe gym in 2004.
"A lot of little kids want to be Joseph Parker, just like when David was fighting, everybody want to be David Tua," Arkell told RNZ in 2018.
"It's a big inspiration for young ones who want to box."
Arkell initially did not see anything special in Parker.
"He was a little short overweight boy, I won't call him fat, he's too big now. Little short plumpy boy who wasn't really interested, he had more fun running round talking to the others. Joseph was more interested in fishing, he quite often went 'sick'."
But the coach soon noticed his speed, quickly increasing size and intelligence.
Mose Auimatagi Jnr celebrates with coach Grant Arkell, second from left, after a victory in 2016. Photo: Photosport
After urging him not to let his natural talents go to waste, Arkell said Parker finally begun to start realising some of his potential.
"He was fighting men when he was 15 and 16, because I couldn't get anyone [his own age] to fight him.
Arkell also gave $4000 to Parker so he could be sent to the Youth World championships in Azerbaijan in 2010, however, this meant that Arkell couldn't afford to go himself.
He would ensure his gym remained affordable to all those in need of it.
"I thought, if I've got to move out of here I've got to start up somewhere again, and I don't want to lose [these kids]... it's a big part of my life. It's just a matter of trying to stay in this area so I can keep these kids going because most, the majority of them, come from around South Auckland. I think a lot of them would have been lost if this place had closed down," he told RNZ in 2020 with the gym facing possible closure.
The gym was eventually forced to close its doors in 2021 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arkell trained Patrick Mailata at the beginning of his amateur boxing career, who would end up winning the Bronze Medal at 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Mose Auimatagi Jnr, and many other notable boxers including Tino Honey and Tane Tautalanoa.
He is survived by his wife Mary, his five children, 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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