johnny tapia boxrec

But he went on with his careerand was paid two million dollars to face legendary champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2002. Required fields are marked *. The camera pans across the yellow landscape and settles on a solitary man, walking with his head down as though ruminating on a dark memory. [9], Tapia was found unconscious and not breathing in a hotel room early on the morning of March 12, 2007. Boxer Johnny Tapia was found dead Sunday in New Mexico, this according to local police. A car crash killed them both as they were on their way. Champinon.info 2018-2023. So why not try and get over the bad stuff and try to make it a good ending?. Discovery Company. Johnny Tapia fights Manuel Medina in a 2002 IBF featherweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Everybody has their faults, I have them, and I could move on and find somebody else, and you know, they might not have an addiction but how do I know they wont be a womaniser, they wont be an abuser? Four times I was declared dead. His life, which ended at just 45, was spent trying not to fall into the abyss. His 1999 loss by decision to Paulie Ayala was named the Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine.Tapia was inducted during 2017, posthumously, to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.Tapia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Mexican American parents. His story is well documented but remains as horrifically shocking today as it ever was. Home But he insists the best of him is still to come, writes Declan Taylor. WHAT IS TAPIA'S REACH? Johnny Tapia was born on the 13th of February, 1967. Foul play is not suspected; an autopsy and toxicology tests will be carried out, Gibbs said. Johnny Tapia looks to get back into title contention following yet another disputed loss to Paulie Ayala, taking on Famosito Gomez in the main event of Showt. The family lived in Albuquerque, NM.[13]. With Johnny its hard to decide what is best for him but, as a wife, Id love to see him retire and be a husband and a father first and foremost.. [15] After Tapia died in 2012, his widow briefly married his alleged half-brother, Jeffrey Padilla, in 2014. That was his life.. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. After the Barrera fight, Tapias problems with drug abuse became more acute. John Lee Tapia: sex: male alias: Mi Vida Loca: nationality: USA stance: orthodox: height: 5 6 / 168cm: reach: 65 / 165cm: residence: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA: birth place: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Tapia turned to drugs in 1988, 11 years before he lost to Ayala. On their wedding night, in 1993, Teresa found the man she had pledged her life to injecting drugs. To make money he sometimes participated in underground fights at a local bar, where apparently the only prohibited weapon was a gun. He also remembers the misery that attacked the highs and hauled everything down. Theres times when I look at him and I think to myself, I believe were going to grow old together, I believe were going to see our kids and our grandkids and were going to beat the odds. I have been famous and infamous. Retained IBF and WBO super flyweight titles. CNN . On October 12, 1994 at The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tapia defeated Henry Martnez in eleven rounds to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title. A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. Her killing would not be solved for almost 25 years. Not included in the police report was young Johnnys memory of being awakened by screaming and looking out the window to see his mother chained in the back of a pickup truck driving by the house, Sports Illustrated said. Search instead in Creative? He was born on Feb. 13, 1967, so he will turn 46 in -10 month and -11 day. None of it occurred on Teresas watch. In 2007 Johnny overdosed again and was taken to hospital where he lay in a coma. Raised thereafter by his grandmother, Tapia turned to boxing at the age of nine.Tapia had an outstanding amateur career, winning the 1983 New Mexico State Golden Gloves, the 1983 and 1985 National Golden Gloves tournaments at light flyweight and flyweight, respectively.Tapia's professional boxing career began on March 25, 1988, when he fought Effren Chavez in Irvine, California. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon on the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. Data may be incomplete and inaccurate. Tapia was hospitalized in critical condition from an apparent cocaine overdose at Albuquerque Presbyterian Hospital. I dont know how this story is going to end, she said. Did you encounter any technical issues? She couldnt leave him. Benitez first won the 140-pound WBA light-welterweight title from Antonio Cervantes on March 6, 1976, at the age of 17. johnny tapia boxrec - At johnny tapia boxrec we like to say " There is no fun like fun in the waterOur mission is to turn your little ones into professional-level swimmers. The day after he was admitted, his brother-in-law and nephew were killed in a car accident on their way to visit him. Undefeated and only 23-years-old, the drug was his undoing when he tested positive in June of 1990 and then did so again several more times in the ensuing months. The 45-year-old has been clean for over two years now, since being released from prison and embarking on a comeback. 2023 Cable News Network. During this time, Tapias wife, Teresa, had authorities re-open his mothers murder case. In 1996, he fought six more times, keeping his undefeated record and defending the title five additional times during that period, which included wins against Giovanni Andrade, Ivan Alvarez, future champion Hugo Rafael Soto, Sammy Stewart and Adonis Cruz. Tapia was banned from boxing for three years and he describes his suspension as one of the lowest times in his life. Family members say Albuquerque police were summoned to Tapia's house at 7:45 PM Sunday by a family member who discovered the body. 5:45 PM EDT, Mon May 28, 2012. She was 32 years old, and from that unthinkable day, Johnny pledged that he would not live beyond that age. In his first defeat, Tapia lost the bantamweight crown to Paulie Avala in June 1999 in what The Ring magazine called the fight of the year. He narrowly defeated Manuel Medina in 2002 to win the featherweight (126 pounds) title. He leaps up, like a puppy dog, and gallops towards the fighters. His laughter is curly and instantly infectious. Boxer Johnny Tapia was found dead Sunday in New Mexico, this according to local police. Within weeks of Johnny being incarcerated, Teresas mother and grandmother passed away, and Johnnys grandfather died. In 2010, at age 43, Tapia learned that apparently, his father was alive. An insightful and revealing documentary, Tapia shows both his darkness and his better nature as it presents a life thats too complex to judge. His disproportionately large knuckles bulge through the skin as he twists his palm skywards. Jerry Padilla, who Tapia already knew, was supposedly intrigued by the similarities in their mannerisms, and the two decided to submit to a DNA test, which proved they were father and son. Though an active professional, Tapia belonged to a street gang and began using cocaine as a young man. He suffers from bipolar disorder and it makes it very difficult the highs are very high and the lows are very low. Bohol down twice in Round 2. Johnny Tapia. With tragic irony, it was his heartwhich had never once let him down inside the ringthat failed him. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the unified IBF and WBO super flyweight titles between 1994 and 1998, the unified WBA and WBO bantamweight titles between 1998 and 2000, and the IBF featherweight title in 2002. If he says Im just going to run down the store to get a Dr Pepper, you cant help but think you should go with him, and wonder what is going to happen. On February 11, 2009, Tapia was taken into custody in Albuquerque for a violation of parole related to cocaine use. The denial of any possibility to exact vengeance stung Johnny. Today, as the giddy Vegas gamblers follow the hypnotic neon lights in search of making their fortune, Teresa is still hoping her marriage will hit the jackpot. That was a very, very emotional time and the hardest time for me, and for him, because he knew he had gone too far. On May 27, 2012, Tapia was found dead in his Albuquerque home. [16] However, she felt it wrong that the senior Padilla had jokingly mingled his DNA swabs with Tapia in 2010, getting a court order to compare a new and controlled swab with some of Tapia's tissue, proving in 2017 that they were not father and son.[15]. Heavyweight hope Jared Anderson does not want to be famous but realises that is a necessity if hes to realise his dreams for both himself and his brother, Kevin Lerena explains to Thomas Gerbasi how a call from Frank Warren convinced him to pack his bags, Dillian Whyte is coming off the most convincing defeat of his career and tragedy in his personal life. A Warner Bros. Teresa suddenly felt fierce hatred towards husband but, even as his constant drug possession resulted in him being sent to prison, she couldnt bring herself to untie the knot. It was a cruel blow for wife Terese to take. This is perhaps the documentarys most poignant moment. "A family member . It wasnt okay and he would never be able to make up for that.. I hurt, Im old, Im done, he says, almost poetically. Mike Tyson called Tapia one of the greatest fighters ever. She became his manager. I was raised as a pit bull, he wrote in the book, which was co-authored by Bettina Gilois. Tapia spokesman Julian Jiron says the marriage came "out of love, respect, and the preservation of the family and Johnny's legacy." Tapia returned home to prepare for bouts in 2001, when he went up in weight and beat Famosito Gomez by a knockout in six, and former WBC featherweight champion Cesar Soto by knockout in three. She wrestles with her unconditional adoration for Johnny every single day. Tapia won by unanimous decision (UD). She opened the bathroom door and found Tapia with a needle in his arm. May he rest in peace. He experienced frequent relapses over the next few years and several overdoses. Tapia was deducted 1 point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt. The bout was being promoted as The Final Fury and Tapia promised he would win. I was so focused on killing him that I didnt train or anything. After four rounds of boxing the fight was called a draw. The torment threatens to break his voice but he manages to resist. Though boxing would provide no more thrills, there was a surprising development in his life. I wanted to get him and stab him the same way he did my mom. He drew in his first bout but his career soon exploded, and Johnny wouldnt lose until his forty-ninth prizefight. He took the wedding cash and dumped her in a cheap hotel. NOTE: Johnny Tapia died one year later, in May 2012, from heart failure. BLEACHED smiles and engineered chests bounce past beggars slurring their way through rehearsed pleas for money. Two controversial defeats to Paulie Ayala introduced a new dimension to his experience as a professional, that of losing, and it didnt sit well with Tapia, who felt he was robbed in both fights. After that, the fight with Romero was set for Las Vegas. I have been wealthy and lost it all. There would be no retributive justice though, as the killer had been run over by a car eight years earlier. Not from a drug overdose, but from heart failure. By continuing to browse, cookies will be set on your device. Johnny Tapia, a prizefighter who won world titles in three weight classes in a chaotic life that included jail, struggles with mental illness, suicide attempts and five times being declared clinically dead as a result of drug overdoses, was found dead at his home in Albuquerque on Sunday. Browse 210 johnny tapia stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Your email address will not be published. If I could take that all back I would.. Birth place: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Sometimes by the book, it would be wrong to do the things Johnny does, but hes such a natural fighter, he gets away with it., John Lee Tapia liked to point out that he was born in Albuquerque on Friday the 13th in February 1967. Jesse Pearson editor et scriptor Americanus est. Teresa nearly walked away from her man in 2007. There is a real openness that invites you to step inside his world and be his friend. Highlights of Johnny Tapia's best combinations & knockouts.Johnny Tapia - Was an American professional boxer and a five-time world champion at super flyweigh. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. He did everything illegal that he could to make money. On the drive to visit him, his brother-in-law and nephew were killed in a car accident. Thats my queen.. Teresa loves it when her husband chuckles like that; it means he is in a good place. > Their rivalry had begun many years earlier when Romero's father trained both boxers. Tapia ruled down in round eleven. After four rounds of boxing the fight was called a draw. Hes been like a freak of nature where hes never really taken any type of punishment in the ring where hes been hurt which has been a blessing, she says in her suitably angelic voice. He won eight fights that year, five by knockout, of which four were in the first round.In 1989, he won seven more fights, including a first-round knockout of Abner Barajas and an eight-round decision against John Michael Johnson. I felt that I killed [them] cause I was in the coma, he says. Fortunately, he was allowed to resume his career in 1994. Boxing, he tells the camera, saved my life., Your email address will not be published. The murderer had died in 1983 after stumbling drunk into the middle of a busy Albuquerque street where he was hit by three cars and dragged to his death. [11], Tapia was scheduled to make a comeback on May 2, 2008, in El Paso, Texas, but pulled out due to contractual disputes with promoter Ron Weathers.[12]. In his next fight, he defeated Puerto Rico's Andy Agosto via decision. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much After he defended his belt with a decision over Javier Torres, a rematch with Ayala to unify the belt was set up. Tapia began 1998 by successfully defending his championships for the 11th time against former world champion Rodolfo Blanco of Colombia via decision, and then he vacated his world titles in order to move up in weight. A family member came home, found him deceased and called us, Officer Robert Gibbs, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, police spokesman, said Monday. Nobody puts their hands on my mama. My wife could have killed me, she could have turned off the machine, Johnny says, his voice quivering under the weight of shame. Five-time WBO world champion who had a record of 59-5-2. TM & 2023 BoxingScene.All Rights Reserved. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the unified IBF and WBO super flyweight titles between 1994 and 1998, the unified WBA and WBO bantamweight titles between 1998 and 2000, and the IBF featherweight title in 2002. Fed up, she said, she locked him in her apartment, whose windows were covered with bars, and refused to let him out for six weeks while he broke free of the drugs grip. He had many tattoos, which were prominent when he was fighting. But without prizefighting, life for an impulsive, troubled, and angry young man on the New Mexican streets might have ended much sooner. Back then I needed it, it took me away from everything. [10], The next day, on the morning of March 13, Tapia's brother-in-law and nephew were killed in an automobile accident on U.S. Highway 550 near Bloomfield, New Mexico, apparently en route to the hospital to visit Tapia. Tapia down in round 6, Pastrana down in round 8. In his first title defense, Tapia defeated Jose Rafael Sosa by decision. Johnny Tapia made his professional debut in March 1988, so he has been a pro for 34 years. His first pro fight was in 1988. [14] He was a born-again Christian. His last fight was in June 2011. Thats when I met him, she said. That is to say, he possessed the rare medley of talent, charisma, and recklessness that leapedthrough the screen toseize the viewers heart. We will be paid a commission, with no extra cost to you, if you use those links to make a purchase. Miguel, an amateur boxing champion, taught him pugilistic skills. After two more wins, he gave Willy Salazar a title shot, knocking him out in nine rounds. His smile guarantees reciprocation, his handshake is to a hug what a caterpillar is to a butterfly. He won 59 fights, 30 by knockout; lost 5; and drew 2. The radio station segues to a commercial with Snoop and Wiz Khalifas Young Wild and Free and listening to the music, the ex-champion sways joyfully from side to side. You tell me. After three and a half years away from the ring, he returned to win five fights before defeating Henry Martinez to win the world super flyweight title (115-pound limit). If you change your mind, go to Notifications in the menu to enable browser notifications. He has been honoured by the Sports Journalists Association and the Boxing Writers Association of America. The crazy life of Johnny Tapia - a five-time world champion boxer who once wrote that he had been "raised to fight to the death" - ended this week at age 45. From the age of eight, he has wanted to die. John Lee Anthony Tapia[2] (February 13, 1967 May 27, 2012) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2011. Ayala won by unanimous decision in a fight that ring observers largely felt Tapia won; following the fight, Showtime commentators said that Tapia "put on a clinic" and "something's not right," nearly labeling the decision as rigged. One of them said Mi Vida Loca ("My Crazy Life"), the nickname he adopted. She was subsequently stabbed 22 times with a screwdriver, and left for dead. Tapia spent much of his adult life yearning to meet the man who destroyed her. Thats the love of my life. Tapia was, by the end of the year, a known boxer, his name often appearing in magazine articles. Tapia's heart simply stopped beating and, unlike his previous brushes with death, this one was for real. As I walk away, I wonder if he still will be after a night gliding through the silky temptations of Vegas. Teofimo Lopez v Pedro Campa | Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images Teofimo Lopez vs. Sandor Martin: How to stream,full fight card. Tapia's professional boxing career began on March 25, 1988, when he fought Effren Chavez in Irvine, California. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Montreal is The Fight City. Realizing his habits, she at first resisted. Highlights of Johnny Tapia's best combinations \u0026 knockouts.Johnny Tapia - Was an American professional boxer and a five-time world champion at super flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight. All Rights Reserved. I dont miss her, Tapia claims. The Albuquerque police said an autopsy would be done in the next few days. Tapias mother, Virginia, died on May 28, 1975, according to a police report that said her body was found stabbed 26 times with scissors and a screwdriver. His ring return has kept Tapia out of trouble since 2009 boxing was a condition of his release from prison but now he wants to retire. All of Tapias pain and psychological torment is traced to its source in this one admission. World Boxing Organisation World Super Flyweight Title, World Boxing Organisation World Super Flyweight Title, vacant World Boxing Organisation World Super Flyweight Title, Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas. All fights list 2023, champion titles, age, height, reach and weight, KO ratio of the boxer Johnny Mi Vida Loca Tapia. . Bout made at a catchweight of 124 pounds. When he was eight years old, his mother, Virginia, was kidnapped, raped, hanged, repeatedly stabbed, and left for dead by her assailant.Google+: https://plus.google.com/104715270079859886366Dailymotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/haNZAgodVimeo: https://vimeo.com/user41971768Highlights Knockouts Tribute------------------------------------------------haNZAgod When at his best, Johnny Tapia met the world with the finest smile. Johnny Tapia vs. Paulie Ayala (1st meeting) - BoxRec Johnny Tapia vs. Paulie Ayala (1st meeting) Paulie Ayala 118 lbs beat Johnny Tapia 118 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12 Date: 1999-06-26 Location: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Referee: Joe Cortez Judge: Guy Jutras 115-114 Judge: Duane Ford 116-113 Judge: Fernando Viso 116-113 While the Martinez title-winning fight might be his greatest moment, there were other notable wins. Johnny Tapia. Anchored in the chaos is a slight man, clear-eyed and full of life, gleefully posing for photographs. He was 45 years old. In a statement, Teresa Tapia said she decided thatmarryingPadilla would be best for the children, for a continuation of their sense of family. On October 12, 1994 Johnny Tapia became the WBO super flyweight champion in a fight for the vacant title. Stabbed 22 times with a screwdriver, and from that unthinkable day, pledged. Day after he was admitted, his brother-in-law and nephew were killed in a accident! 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