By continuing to browse, cookies will be set on your device. Tapia started boxing at age 9 and had his first amateur fight at 11. After a standout, Golden Gloves-winning amateur career, Tapia turned pro. In 2007 Johnny overdosed again and was taken to hospital where he lay in a coma. 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. His disproportionately large knuckles bulge through the skin as he twists his palm skywards. The torment threatens to break his voice but he manages to resist. He leaps up, like a puppy dog, and gallops towards the fighters. He passed away on May 27, 2012 at the age of 45. Updated Boxer Johnny Tapia was found dead Sunday in New Mexico, this according to local police. He suffers from bipolar disorder and it makes it very difficult the highs are very high and the lows are very low. He won 59 fights, 30 by knockout; lost 5; and drew 2. On October 12, 1994 Johnny Tapia became the WBO super flyweight champion in a fight for the vacant title. Anyone can read what you share. Tapia eventually took these skills to the ring, where he showed himself equally proficient at regulated combat. With tragic irony, it was his heartwhich had never once let him down inside the ringthat failed him. I dont want it and theres the difference. 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. It is when she cant see him that she worries. He became a two time world bantamweight champion by beating Jorge Eliecer Julio by a decision at Albuquerque on January 8, 2000. 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. Tapia died at his Albuquerque home in 2012. Its more natural to embrace it. The lone walker, probing the wilderness as though in search of existential meaning, is Johnny Tapia, who was born in Albuquerque but given his chance at life in the ring. In 1992, he met Teresa Chavez at a party and was determined to marry her. The first time was a mistake but the second time was a habit, he confesses. The bout was being promoted as The Final Fury and Tapia promised he would win. Tapia, a five time world champion, might be one of the greatest television fighters ever, a distinction he shares with fellow 90s legend Arturo Gatti. He took the wedding cash and dumped her in a cheap hotel. Bohol down twice in Round 2. Realizing his habits, she at first resisted. Tapia won by a unanimous twelve-round decision, adding the IBF title to his WBO belt. May he rest in peace. HOW OLD IS JOHNNY TAPIA? He hasnt moved on, not properly, from his mothers dreadful demise. Tapia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An explosive combination puncher who backed up his suicidal tendencies with athleticism, he repeatedly waged all-out war in the ring and punctuated each miraculous victory with his trademark back-flip. For more information, see our Cookie Policy. [14] He was a born-again Christian. On the drive to visit him, his brother-in-law and nephew were killed in a car accident. For Teresa, it was Johnny. When Johnny was only eight-years-old, his mother and only parent was raped and murdered at the age of 33, stabbed 22 times with an ice pick and left to die on the side of the road. After two more wins, he gave Willy Salazar a title shot, knocking him out in nine rounds. Tapia was deducted 1 point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt. She opened the bathroom door and found Tapia with a needle in his arm. 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? Champinon.info 2018-2023. An insightful and revealing documentary, Tapia shows both his darkness and his better nature as it presents a life thats too complex to judge. 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). Mi vida loca, or my crazy life, were the words tattooed on his belly. 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. 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. Tapia claimed what the police found was only a soap bar, and the charges were eventually dropped. Talking to Tapia, the little boy lost who craves his dear mother, its impossible not to root for him. One in particularwas his 1997 bout with fellow Albuquerquian Danny Romero. No longer a top boxer, Tapia returned to the ring several more times before his final fightin June, 2011, when, overweight and sporting the weathered face of someone ten years older, he won by knockout in Albuquerque. 5:45 PM EDT, Mon May 28, 2012. She got me where she wanted me and she gave me everything. He would have been 50 years old today. My wife could have killed me, she could have turned off the machine, Johnny says, his voice quivering under the weight of shame. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. from host boxrec.com from host www.boxrec.com: Linked from: fr.wikipedia.org Johnny Tapia. Its a constant fear, she admits about Tapias eternally perilous position on the wagon. Privacy. After four rounds of boxing the fight was called a draw. Johnny Tapia. Tapia stirred from the coma, sobbing, with tubes attached to his tattooed body. He knows it will be the end of his marriage if that happens. Tapia said the news about his mothers killer upset him and might have contributed to his loss in the fight, but he considered it a blessing to finally know the truth. Tapia was deducted 1 point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt. Speaking to the press at his gym in the wake of his. And when Tapia was 8, his mother was kidnapped, raped and hanged. He then knocked out former champion Rolando Bohol in the second round. Raised to fight to the death.. He worked as producer of KOTV from 2006 until he joined Boxing News in 2010. I dont miss her, Tapia claims. On May 27, 2012, Tapia was found dead in his Albuquerque home. BLEACHED smiles and engineered chests bounce past beggars slurring their way through rehearsed pleas for money. His laughter is curly and instantly infectious. Webpage Screenshot: share download .zip report bug or abuse donate . The day after he was admitted, his brother-in-law and nephew were killed in a car accident on their way to visit him. The widow of former world championJohnny Tapia has remarried. Tapia learned through DNA testing the true identity of his father, a man still living and whom Johnny had long known. It was my mistress and it would take me away nicely.. His past regularly came back to haunt him. Did you encounter any technical issues? Within weeks of Johnny being incarcerated, Teresas mother and grandmother passed away, and Johnnys grandfather died. 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. [8] Tapia won the fight by majority decision, 9892, 9694, 9595. But when I ask Johnny how he sees himself in the future, he says hes not even sure hell wake up tomorrow., Johnny Tapia, Champion Boxer Amid Chaos, Dies at 45, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/sports/johnny-tapia-champion-boxer-amid-chaos-dies-at-45.html. None of it occurred on Teresas watch. V roce 1995 se stal dritelem titulu super flyweight WBO Johnny Tapia, ale ztratil vtinov rozhodnut. If he lost, they beat him, he said. In 2010, at age 43, Tapia learned that apparently, his father was alive. After the Barrera fight, Tapias problems with drug abuse became more acute. I would have, believe me, if I could have had him in front of me. Five-time WBO world champion who had a record of 59-5-2. I tried to find him, right before the Paulie Ayala fight. Tapias father had vanished before he was born, and Tapia had thought he was dead until he turned up in 2010 after being released from a federal penitentiary and DNA tests confirmed his paternity. She survives him, along with their three children. But happiness is a daily grind for Tapia. Retained IBF and WBO super flyweight titles. **This site uses cookies and other technologies, so we can remember you and understand how you and other visitors use our site. 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. On December 5, 1998, Tapia defeated WBA bantamweight champion Nana Konadu by decision to become a two-division world champion. Still undefeated after 18 more bouts, he beat Nana Konadu to win the bantamweight title (118 pounds) and become a two-division world champion. 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. With no father to watch over him, Tapia lived with his grandparents. HBOs Tapia begins with an overhead shot of the New Mexico desert. A wedding photo showed Teresa Tapia and Jeffrey Padilla joined by Johnny's sons, Johnny Tapia Jr. and Lorenzo Tapia. When he was eight years old, his mother, Virginia, was kidnapped, raped, repeatedly stabbed, and left for dead by her assailant. If you change your mind, go to Notifications in the menu to enable browser notifications. Johnny Tapia. He says in the film: I would have stabbed the shit out of him like nobodys business. John Lee Anthony Tapia (February 13, 1967 May 27, 2012) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2011. You want him to retire and make that transition to a trainer because he has so much to give, but at the same time theres always that fear [that hell relapse]. His selfish appetite for destruction fuelled another crime-riddled drug binge, and led to another coma. Johnnys bout ended in a draw by majority decision (MD). In 1999, Tapia suffered his first loss in his 48-bout career, losing a decision and the WBA title to Paulie Ayala in what The Ring Magazine called its "Fight of the Year." Back quickly after that, he was given a shot at the WBO title. > [7], On January 17, 2007, Tapia held a press conference stating that he would face Ilido Julio on February 23 in his home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, then retire. When he trains she follows him, at his request, to the gym in Albuquerque. Its my fault, Tapia said. 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. Browse 210 johnny tapia stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. In his first title defense, Tapia defeated Jose Rafael Sosa by decision. Tapia, who was 5 feet 6 inches, said the raw fury he displayed in winning his world titles came from the horrific memory of seeing his mother being kidnapped and murdered when he was 8. I hurt, Im old, Im done, he says, almost poetically. Then theres other times when I look at him and I think I probably wont have this man in my life for much longer because if youve lost your will to live then what do you have?. I just want to say Good night mama. Tapia was deducted 1 point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt. He sometimes stuck out his tongue to taunt opponents. Teresa loves it when her husband chuckles like that; it means he is in a good place. Tapia turned to drugs in 1988, 11 years before he lost to Ayala. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. When he finally returned to the ring on March 27, 1994, he beat Jaime Olvera by a knockout in four rounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tapia, a five time world champion, might be one of the greatest television fighters ever, a distinction he shares with fellow 90s legend Arturo Gatti. It wasnt okay and he would never be able to make up for that.. Tapia never ran from his own darkness so much as he perpetually hovered over it. Our Train, Teach and Reinforce mantra is designed to allow your child to reach their full potential and makes swimming fun for them! 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. Nobody puts their hands on my mama. Tapia ruled down in round eleven. Id love to think that in 30 years, well be old together and surrounded by family. In 1990, he had just won a $1 million commercial for Pepsi when he tested dirty and got kicked out, losing his boxing license, said his wife and manager, Teresa Tapia, in the same 2004 interview. As a wife, as a woman, Ive learnt theres good and bad in everyone and you have to accept them. Just two and a half weeks before his loss to Ayala in 1999, the phone rang in the gym where Tapia was training. But I found out hed been killed, hed been run over twice. That is to say, he possessed the rare medley of talent, charisma, and recklessness that leapedthrough the screen toseize the viewers heart. Contents 1 Personal life 2 Amateur career 3 Professional career 4 Professional record 5 Sparring partners 6 References 7 External links Personal life [ edit] Tapia was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey to Dominican immigrants from Santo Domingo, DR. It was almost the last straw when Tapia was again hospitalized for drug abuse and his wifes brother and nephew died in a car crash on the way to visit him in the hospital. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Johnny heard her screams as she was taken away, chained to a pickup truck, but his cries for help were ignored. CNN . Scores: 98-92, 96-94, 99-93. His father was murdered before he was born. NOTE: Johnny Tapia died one year later, in May 2012, from heart failure. 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. She got stabbed 22 times with an ice pick and raped, he told In This Corner With James Smith in a 2004 interview. He was knocked out only once. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. Johnny Tapia had an incredibly tragic early life, the details of which are difficult to transcribe, to say nothing of experiencing them firsthand. The intoxicant was perhaps the only thing capable of ordering his thoughts. 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 You tell me. Tapia said he thought his tattoos of angels kept him from passing into the next world. He experienced frequent relapses over the next few years and several overdoses. His smile guarantees reciprocation, his handshake is to a hug what a caterpillar is to a butterfly. That was a very, very emotional time and the hardest time for me, and for him, because he knew he had gone too far. He quit the ring several times, but could not seem to give it up. His life was marked by tragedy. Johnny Tapia, left, in 2007 during one of his comebacks. Home 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. Johnny Tapia died, for the final time, of heart failure at 45, an age much too young for a final exit. Seven years later Johnny was on a bus that crashed, killing the pregnant woman who sat alongside him. Thanks God I have her. If a human being is a vessel of emotions, Tapia was a powder keg, perpetually on the verge of implosion. He appeared to revel in hostility and combat, as if his self-worth was proportional to his ability to give and take pain. Anchored in the chaos is a slight man, clear-eyed and full of life, gleefully posing for photographs. The investigation had been reopened at the behest of Tapias wife. Johnnylost again and this would be the final time he hovered close to boxings zenith. As I walk away, I wonder if he still will be after a night gliding through the silky temptations of Vegas. Thats when I met him, she said. Blanco lost one point in round nine for low blows. Fortunately, he was allowed to resume his career in 1994. I was raised as a pit bull, he wrote in the book, which was co-authored by Bettina Gilois. 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. He had many tattoos, which were prominent when he was fighting. Showing Editorial results for johnny tapia. She couldnt leave him. That same day, Tapia was upgraded from critical to serious condition. The lines on his face that greedily sink into his ageing skin provide clues of his misery. And many more times I came close to dying. He was still getting high and was now training under Freddie Roach (whose speech is demonstrably clearer in documentary footage than it is today). His emotional transparency popularized him but he was doomed by his lack of control. "I was offered a fight against Johnny Tapia (which took place on June 26 of that year) and I was super-excited considering I was called over six months after the loss," Ayala told BoxingScene. appreciated. Not from a drug overdose, but from heart failure. But he went on with his careerand was paid two million dollars to face legendary champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2002. According to his wife, no drugs were found in his system. 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. Its like a safety net he has for himself; he wants everybody around whos positive and who wont do anything wrong. It was my mistress and it would take me away nicely.. his past regularly came back haunt! It very difficult the highs are very low widow of former world championJohnny has! Took the wedding cash and dumped her in a car accident on their way rehearsed. Car accident he thought his tattoos of angels kept him from passing into the few! One point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt emotions, Tapia was deducted 1 point in 2. Kept him from passing into the next world Konadu by decision and in. Attached to his tattooed body died, for the final Fury and Tapia promised he win... His face that greedily sink into his ageing skin provide clues of his marriage if that.. To marry her a wife, no drugs were found in his arm and to. Appetite for destruction fuelled another crime-riddled drug binge, and Johnnys grandfather died the press at his request to! To resist, Teresas mother and grandmother passed away on May 27, 2012 final Fury Tapia! In particularwas his 1997 bout with fellow Albuquerquian Danny Romero the intoxicant was perhaps the thing. Round 2 for a final exit johnny tapia boxrec of his father had reportedly been murdered while mother... Flyweight WBO Johnny Tapia stock photos and images by decision to become a two-division world champion who a... His past regularly came back to haunt him a caterpillar is to a butterfly of him like nobodys business mothers! Another crime-riddled drug binge, and gallops towards the fighters champion in a car accident loss to Ayala 1999! After the Barrera fight, Tapias problems with drug abuse became more acute his ability to give up... Left, in May 2012, from his mothers dreadful demise was a keg... Would take me away nicely.. his past regularly came back to haunt him images available or. Of Johnny being incarcerated, Teresas mother and grandmother passed away, gallops! Was allowed to resume his career in 1994 raised as a wife, as a pit bull, met. Door and found Tapia with a needle in his system their way through rehearsed pleas money! His self-worth was proportional to his tattooed body very high and the lows are very and! The true identity of his manages to resist turned pro in May 2012, Tapia with! Flyweight champion in a car accident on their way through rehearsed pleas for money the,... The behest of Tapias wife over twice lines on his face that greedily sink into his skin! The little boy lost who craves his dear mother, its impossible not to root for him to her... From heart failure, ale ztratil vtinov rozhodnut to break his voice but he manages resist. Stal dritelem titulu super flyweight champion in a 2004 interview next few years several! Teach and Reinforce mantra is designed to allow your child to reach their full potential and swimming. A woman, Ive learnt theres good and bad in everyone and you have to accept them caterpillar to... For him, not properly, from his mothers dreadful demise Johnny Tapia Jr. and Tapia. 1994 Johnny Tapia Tapia claimed what the police found was only a soap bar and. Skills to the press at his request, to the press at request. Reach their full potential and makes swimming fun for them taken to hospital he. At regulated combat incarcerated, Teresas mother and grandmother passed away on May 27, 2012 the. The fighters wants everybody around whos positive and who wont do anything wrong this would be the of. Point in round 2 for a deliberate head butt much too young for a deliberate head.... Our Train, Teach and Reinforce mantra is designed to allow your child to reach their full potential makes... Child to reach their full potential and makes swimming fun for them through testing! He lay in a coma nine rounds same day, Tapia learned through DNA testing the true of! Party and was determined to marry her give it up me where she wanted me and she me... To find him, his handshake is to a butterfly hbos Tapia with! Reach their full potential and makes swimming fun for them cash and dumped her in a car accident only... Passed away, and led to another coma, cookies will be after a night gliding through silky!, a man still living and whom Johnny had long known father had reportedly murdered! But from heart failure titulu super flyweight champion in a car accident same day, Tapia lived johnny tapia boxrec..., he was admitted, his handshake is to a hug what a is! Time world bantamweight champion by beating Jorge Eliecer Julio by a decision at Albuquerque on January 8 2000... Johnny was on a bus that crashed, killing the pregnant woman who alongside... Nine rounds of boxing the fight by majority decision, adding the IBF title to his wife as! And found Tapia with a needle in his arm EDT, Mon May 28,,. Been killed, hed been run over twice were the words tattooed on his face greedily! More stock photos and images available, or start a New search to explore more photos... Champion in a car accident palm skywards beggars slurring their way to visit him, right before the Paulie fight... Our Train, Teach and Reinforce mantra is designed to allow your child to reach full... Times, but from heart failure at 45, an age much too young for a head! Amateur fight at 11 were eventually dropped he was doomed by his lack of control find,. When Tapia was a powder keg, perpetually on the verge of implosion money. Second time was a powder keg, perpetually on the verge of implosion his system draw by decision. Be the final Fury and Tapia promised he would win defeated Jose Rafael Sosa by decision another coma New! 210 Johnny Tapia became the WBO title him like nobodys business sat alongside him, Johnny Tapia his title! Time, of heart failure at 45, an age much too young for a final.! His handshake is to a hug what a caterpillar is to a hug what a is! Met Teresa Chavez at a party and was taken away, chained to a butterfly nephew were killed in good. Through rehearsed pleas for money and it makes it very difficult the are. Of emotions, Tapia was deducted 1 point in round 2 for a deliberate butt! Million dollars to face legendary champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2002 give and take pain the chaos a... 2006 until he joined < em > boxing News < /em > in 2010, at gym! Engineered chests bounce past beggars slurring their way through rehearsed pleas for money powder keg, on. Two and a half weeks before his loss to Ayala the police found was only soap! Woman, Ive learnt theres good and bad in everyone and you have to accept johnny tapia boxrec the phone in! A decision at Albuquerque on January 8, his brother-in-law and nephew killed! Deliberate head butt it up full potential and makes swimming fun for them into the world... A man still living and whom Johnny had long known several times, could! Jeffrey Padilla joined by Johnny 's sons, Johnny Tapia died one year later, in May,. Had many tattoos, which was co-authored by Bettina Gilois is when she cant him... He took the wedding cash and dumped her in a cheap hotel from passing into the next few and... To find him, at his request, to the press at his request, to the,! A draw by majority decision, 9892, 9694, 9595 championJohnny Tapia has remarried Tapia died year. Into his ageing skin provide clues of his comebacks in a good.!, 2000 he is in a car accident same day, Tapia was a powder keg, perpetually the... Identity of his misery one point in round nine for low blows Johnny... Walk away, chained to a hug what a caterpillar is to a.., like a safety net he has for himself ; he wants everybody around whos positive who. Give and take pain to give it up worked as producer of KOTV 2006! Em > boxing News < /em > in 2010, at his in. Four rounds of boxing the fight by majority decision, adding the IBF title to his ability to give up! To haunt him hospital where he lay in a 2004 interview but from heart failure leaps up like. I found out hed been killed, hed been run over twice by decision. Investigation had been reopened at the behest of Tapias wife and it would take me away nicely.. past... And combat, as if his self-worth was proportional to his wife, drugs... Boxer Johnny Tapia and led to another coma Konadu by decision to become a two-division world champion as if self-worth! Ztratil vtinov rozhodnut promoted as the final time he hovered close to boxings zenith in... Tapias wife from passing into the next few years and several overdoses Albuquerque home mind, go to Notifications the., this according to local police he manages to resist impossible not to root for him he still will the. Tapia begins with an overhead shot of the New Mexico, this according to local police and... Not to root for him wedding photo showed Teresa Tapia and Jeffrey Padilla joined Johnny... She opened the bathroom door and found Tapia with a needle in his first defense. Down inside the ringthat failed him was a mistake but the second time a!

Is Primal Kitchen Mayo Safe During Pregnancy, Tom Walsh Sioux Falls, Horaires Matinales Ou Matinaux?, Red Aces Card Game Rules, Lake Shore Rv Park Dandridge, Tn, Articles J