Former champion boxer jailed for attack

A former New Zealand champion lightweight boxer has been jailed for attacking a man in what a judge described as a "serious act of violence".

Kalolo Fiaui, 35, won a bronze medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada.

He appeared in New Plymouth District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to injuring a man with intent when they were carrying out a community work sentence at the Pukekura Raceway on October 10 last year.

Fiaui, listed as a Waitara panel beater, had said in his defence that the victim was abusing him and "called him out" for a fight.

But there was no way, with Fiaui's level of boxing skills, that the victim would have wanted to start a fight, Judge Allan Roberts said.

Fiaui, who was already in prison for an earlier assault on a woman, had an additional 10 months added to his term.

- NZPA