Mea Motu, the Kiwi fresh off winning a world boxing title, gave an interview that illustrates she is one humble and hilarious champion.
A Newshub interviewer asked Motu if she took the International Boxing Organisation’s (IBO) super bantamweight world title belt into bed with her after winning it last week. Mea replied that she actually just left it in her car, adding that just because she’s a champion now, doesn’t mean she’s gonna change up.
“I left it in the boot,” she said. “I don’t change for no one. I just carry on being me. That’s just a trophy. But, what I’ve done can’t be beatable. It’s to show people that we can do great.”
To gain the silverware she left in the back of the car, Motu defeated Canada’s Tania Walters in a gruelling fight that went the full ten rounds at Auckland’s Eventfinda Stadium. She won by unanimous decision to move to an undefeated 16 - 0 professional record, and she’s nowhere close to satisfied.
Motu told AM that she’s feeling greedy and wants ALL the boxing belts there are.
“There’s still five more belts to collect,” she said (the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO and Ring Magazine belts). “I’m going to get them and I’m not going to stop until I get them.”
Boxing promoter Dean Lonergan is really keen for Motu to have her first title defence on home soil, but Mea says that will take a lot of support, verbally and financially.
“Fingers crossed,” she said. “I’m hoping Dean will host it here. It will take a lot of negotiations. Dean’s got to do a lot of work to bring it here to New Zealand.”
"He needs the backing, and it does cost a lot of money to bring the opponents over. Especially to fight me - a lot of people will ask for more. Dean and my coach Isaac have to work really hard to get it here.”
"We'd love to have it here, it showcases New Zealand, we put New Zealand on the map."
