"Mi Vida Loca"

Johnny Tapia lead a rough life, a life on the tough streets of Albuquerque New Mexico. He was a "troubled soul." "Mi Vida Loca" translated "My Crazy Life" was one of the many tattoo's Tapia wore with pride. That phrase epitomizes Johnny Tapia's life.

Johnny was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Mexican American parents. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. When he was eight years old, his mother, Virginia, was kidnapped, raped, repeatedly stabbed, and left for dead by her assailant. Raised thereafter by his grandmother, Tapia turned to boxing at the age of nine.

John Lee Anthony Tapia, aka "Baby-faced Assassin' (February 13, 1967 – May 27, 2012) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2011. 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. His 1999 loss by decision to Paulie Ayala was named the Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine.

On early on the morning of March 12, 2007, Johnny was found unconscious and not breathing in a hotel room  Tapia was hospitalized in critical condition from an apparent cocaine overdose at Albuquerque Presbyterian Hospital. 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.

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

On May 27, 2012 Johnny Tapia passed from this earthly plane. The cause of death his was determined by autopsy to be that he died as a result of complications of hypertensive heart disease, or high blood pressure. It was stated by the boxer's former ringside physician that "No illicit drugs were found." In the end Tapia had beaten even the 'dragon'.

His life reads like a cautionary tale. This should be the story of a fighter who nearly made it. The almost man. A man derailed by cocaine and the street life. But Johnny Tapia made it despite all those things. He became Albuquerque's favorite son, a man so admired that even former Governor Bill Richardson felt compelled to note his passing and his impact on the community.

To this day John Lee Anthony Tapia is remembered in the community for what he gave back and who he was. All around town you will find street art honoring his memory and his legend.

Today Señor Tapia, I offer you this entry in remembrance of you.