35 Facts About Johnny Tapia

John Lee Anthony Tapia was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2011.

Johnny Tapia 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.

Johnny Tapia was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

Johnny Tapia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Mexican American parents.

Johnny Tapia's father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him.

Johnny 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.

Johnny Tapia won eight fights that year, five by knockout, of which four were in the first round.

Johnny Tapia was, by the end of the year, a known boxer, his name often appearing in magazine articles.

Johnny Tapia claimed what the police found was only a soap bar, and the charges were eventually dropped.

On October 12,1994 at The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Johnny Tapia defeated Henry Martinez in eleven rounds to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title.

Johnny Tapia then knocked out former champion Rolando Bohol in the second round.

Johnny Tapia retained the title with a nine-round technical draw with Ricardo Vargas and a decision in twelve against his onetime nemesis in the amateur ranks, Arthur Johnson.

Johnny Tapia won by a unanimous twelve-round decision, adding the IBF title to his WBO belt.

Johnny 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.

On December 5,1998, Johnny Tapia defeated WBA bantamweight champion Nana Konadu by decision to become a two-division world champion.

Johnny Tapia became a two time world bantamweight champion by beating Jorge Eliecer Julio by a decision at Albuquerque on January 8,2000.

Ayala won by unanimous decision in a fight that ring observers largely felt Johnny Tapia won; following the fight, Showtime commentators said that Johnny Tapia "put on a clinic" and "something's not right," nearly labeling the decision as rigged.

Johnny 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.

In 2002, Johnny Tapia traveled to London, where he knocked out Eduardo Enrique Alvarez in the first round; after the bout, he was interviewed by former rival Romero.

Johnny Tapia won a dubious decision, becoming a world title holder in three different divisions.

Johnny Tapia returned on the night of October 4,2003, defeating Carlos Contreras by ten round unanimous decision at Albuquerque.

Johnny Tapia fell to the canvas, clutching his ribcage, as referee Genaro Rodriguez reached the count of 10.

On January 17,2007, Johnny 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.

The bout was being promoted as The Final Fury and Johnny Tapia promised he would win.

Johnny Tapia was found unconscious and not breathing in a hotel room early on the morning of March 12,2007.

Johnny Tapia was hospitalized in critical condition from an apparent cocaine overdose at Albuquerque Presbyterian Hospital.

That same day, Johnny Tapia was upgraded from critical to serious condition.

Johnny 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.

On February 11,2009, Johnny Tapia was taken into custody in Albuquerque for a violation of parole related to cocaine use.

Johnny Tapia beat Jorge Alberto Reyes by a knockout in the 4th round on March 6,2010, at the Ohkay Casino, San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, United States, in front of a sold-out crowd.

Johnny Tapia was married to Teresa Johnny Tapia in 1994 and had three boys.

Johnny Tapia had many tattoos, which were prominent when he was fighting.

In 2010, at age 43, Johnny Tapia learned that apparently, his father was alive.

Jerry Padilla, who Johnny 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.

On May 27,2012, Johnny Tapia was found dead in his Albuquerque home.