N.Z. fighter Taihia Gets 2.5 Years For Making Meth
by David P. Greisman
Adrian Taihia — a light heavyweight from New Zealand who appeared on the Australian version of boxing reality competition “The Contender” — has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison, according to the news website stuff.co.nz.
He’d originally faced several charges but took a deal and entered a guilty plea to one count of “being party to manufacturing methamphetamine,” the report said.
Taihia turned pro in early 2008. By 2009 he was on “The Contender,” losing via second-round knockout to eventual show runner-up Kariz Kariuki. The 32-year-old last fought in October, less than two weeks before his sentencing, winning a four-round decision over a 4-44 opponent named Moses Ioelu, according to BoxRec.
That victory brought Taihia’s record to 14-1-2 with 7 KOs.
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