Johnny Tapia: A Tribute to the Heartbreakingly Tragic Life of "Mi Vida Loca"

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by CST80, Oct 31, 2014.


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  1. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    John Lee Tapia was a 5'6 Superflyweight, Bantamweight, and Featherweight with a 59-5 30 KO's 1 KO loss from Albuquerque, New Mexico who died of Heart Failure at the young age of 45.

    Johnny had a very sad and tumultuous life, in fact his life was tragic before it even started. While his mother was pregnant with him his father was murdered, so he came into the world a fatherless child, then unbelievably at the young impressionable age of 8 his mother was taken from him in a horrific fashion she was kidnapped, raped, hanged, and stabbed multiple times, Johnny tried to alert his family no one listened.

    No one can be expected to have a normal life after their childhood innocence is so ruthlessly stripped from them he turned to boxing at the age of 9 to help him cope with the loss. In 1983 he became the National Golden Gloves light flyweight champion and the 1985 National Golden Gloves flyweight champion. He turned pro in 1988 and had a remarkable 11 year undefeated run, until finally losing to Paulie Ayala in 1999 and again in the rematch. Later he was defeated by Mexican Legend Marco Antonio Barrera.

    He decided to have his final match in January 2007 and then retire, but only 2 months into his retirement he was found unconscious from a cocaine overdose in an Albuquerque Hotel room. The next day as his condition improved, his brother in law and nephew were killed in a car accident on their way to visit him in the hospital. He fought his final match in 2011 by defeating Maurcio Pastrana by UD.

    After years of hardship, drug use and tragedy his body couldn't take it anymore and his heart failed him Johnny died on May 27, 2012, he is survived by his wife Teresa and 3 young boys. So get to know the courageous fighter Johnny once was and experience some of the highlights of his sad, far too short, Vida Loca.



    Educate Yourselves
    Tapia Vs. Bohol
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Q4gTZTFUo
    Tapia Vs. Barrera
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o845ay8sodU
    Tapia Vs. Ayala
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGbJQ7ONhFQ
    Tapia Vs. Romero
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsGkT2nk0L4
    Tapia Vs. Soto
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mdKF07xQtw
    Tapia Tribute
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNuvAxuUwIk
    Tapia Mi Vida Loca
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QxjmnsEf0M
     
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    #1
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  2. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    #2
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  3. Tancred

    Tancred Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Nice post
     
    Tancred, Oct 31, 2014
    Tancred, Oct 31, 2014
    #3
  4. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Thanks:good
     
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
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  5. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    While he was anything but a role model outside the ring, his continuous attempts to rebound from his repeated mistakes mirrored the perseverance that he showed when laced up - making him perhaps among the most unlikely nominees for "most inspirational" boxer of the 90's, along with, even more surprisingly for those who grew up in the era, his good friend Mike Tyson.

    Watching him was a major part of me ever wanting to box myself (perhaps the biggest part, along with his baton-pass recipient MAB) and he and the other luminaries in his weigh range cemented me as lifelong diehard instead of just the 'casual' fan I'd been since early childhood.
     
    IntentionalButt, Oct 31, 2014
    IntentionalButt, Oct 31, 2014
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  6. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    One of a kind.
     
    fists of fury, Oct 31, 2014
    fists of fury, Oct 31, 2014
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  7. Chango

    Chango Well-Known Member Full Member

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    CST80, I dont agree with most of your posts, not even sure if I like you. But this here is a nice thread. I was a big fan of Tapia. Thanks for posting.
     
    Chango, Oct 31, 2014
    Chango, Oct 31, 2014
    #7
  8. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Thanks, I guess:lol:
     
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
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  9. Daddy

    Daddy Active Member Full Member

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    One of my favorite boxers. Good call on remembering him.
     
    Daddy, Oct 31, 2014
    Daddy, Oct 31, 2014
    #9
  10. Chango

    Chango Well-Known Member Full Member

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    :lol::lol::lol:All in good fun
     
    Chango, Oct 31, 2014
    Chango, Oct 31, 2014
    #10
  11. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

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    Great post & great tribute to Johnny Tapia a real warrior & great champion.
    I met Johnny & Teresa when he was doing the pro mo's for the Tapia-Ayala 1. They were a great couple a pleasure to be around. We met again at the pro mo for Tapia-Ayala II. I was amazed he even remembered me but he came right across the room to shake hands & say Hi CJ He turned to Teresa & said "Look CJ is here again" What a great guy to remember me & even remember my name. R.I.P Champ One of the very best
     
    C.J., Oct 31, 2014
    C.J., Oct 31, 2014
    #11
  12. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    :good
     
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
    CST80, Oct 31, 2014
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  13. Raybans

    Raybans Pro Gamboa Full Member

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    Been trying to find the documentary on Tapia that 50 cent bought the rights to for ages - still can't find it anywhere!
     
    Raybans, Nov 1, 2014
    Raybans, Nov 1, 2014
    #13
  14. Barrera

    Barrera Defeated Boxing_master Full Member

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    not many people know but he was very close friends with barrera, he even walked barrera out for his fight vs hamed. and watch after barrera beats tapia, tapia hangs out in his corner afterwards having a laugh sharing water bottle an ****

    RIP TAPIA
     
    Barrera, Nov 1, 2014
    Barrera, Nov 1, 2014
    #14
  15. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    HBO ripped me off, I'm gonna sue:yep
     
    CST80, Dec 16, 2014
    CST80, Dec 16, 2014
    #15
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