TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with JOHNNY TAPIA
FRI September 16, COYOTE DURAN - Boxing is a sport full of enigmas. Blindfold yourself and throw a
dart at a wall covered in names and I'll bet you six ways to Sunday that
you'll hit one. Fewer greater enigmas than Johnny Tapia exist in
Our Sport, however.
If ever a competitor has been through Hell, within or outside the ropes, it would be Tapia (55-4-2 with 28 knockouts). But unlike many who've embraced the sport as a method of self-healing from rough, broken upbringings, the man known as "Mi Vida Loca" has taken horribly extenuating circumstances and, at times, added further pain to his own recipe of grief and sickness.
Not to be outdone is a heart of a sensitive warrior that beats to an erratic and unpredictable rhythm. When touched by love and support from his family, namely his wife/manager, Teresa, there are fewer men who can climb higher peaks.
At the age of 38, Tapia feels that there are other peaks to conquer, one of them being a last minute fight installed on a card that started out as an opportunity for Tapia to fight in Chicago tonight on Telefutura's Solo Boxeo program, a first for the five-time, three division titlist. The opponent? Sandro Marcos, a relative unknown with a spotty record, best known for losing to former World Lightweight Champion Jose Luis Castillo six years ago. But it's still a fight and fighting is one of the few things that really makes Johnny Tapia smile.
I caught up to Johnny a couple of days ago and gave him a soapbox and let me tell ya, fewer soapboxes were ever appreciated more! Johnny dished about everything I was willing to listen to: How he felt about The Windy City, his emotional rock, Teresa and a book and movie based on his "vida loca."
Read on, Howlers. Hilarity, confusion, good feelings, love and sometimes even a little bit of empathic concern were very, very abundant here. Whatever you feel, I hope you enjoy it.
Coyote Duran: First and foremost, Johnny, I'd like to personally welcome you to Chicago.
Johnny Tapia: Thank you, man! You know, that's The Windy City! The home of the greats right there, man! Michael Jordan started everything off there!
Coyote Duran: I know this is your very first time fighting in Chicago.
Johnny Tapia: It sure is.
Coyote Duran: Have you ever visited this area before?
Johnny Tapia: I've never been........ well, me and my wife vacationed in Chicago. Uh, to go to Chicago...........(turns to Teresa) When did we go to Chicago?.........London?........We've been to Chicago twice.......We never stood there.........We just stood there and then flew over. But, I've always wanted to go to Chicago. You know what? To tell you the truth, my dream was always to be there but I never thought I'd fight there. Never. It's just knowing that the Chicago Bulls play there. Beautiful people. A lot of Latinos. That's what I'm excited about.
Coyote Duran: I've gotta tell ya, if you want a racially diverse community, Johnny, this is the place for you to be, bud. I mean, Chicago is loaded with so many ethnic backgrounds. The food is incredible. I don't know how you feel about the food and I know that with fighting for as long as you have, you've always had to make weight.............
Johnny Tapia: Yeah!
Coyote Duran: So it's a bad place to be a fighter if you like the food!
Johnny Tapia: You know what? I love food. And you know, I know it's gonna be bad because there's different kinds of foods. But the truth is, it don't matter. I'm gonna go there and I'm gonna go eat once I'm done weighing in.
Coyote Duran: (Laughing) Atta boy!
Johnny Tapia: I'm gonna get hit anyway! But I will be ready and I'm in good shape. You know what? I'm only a couple of pounds off so I'm OK.
Coyote Duran: Sounds cool. Now getting back to Chicago: It's a pretty great fight town for the really great grass-roots promotions like 8 Count, Hitz Boxing and One In A Million. But in the past four months, we've had three really big cards between Don King Productions and Main Events. In light of this, was coming to Chicago to compete good timing for Johnny Tapia?
Johnny Tapia: You know what? It wasn't all about that. I was just excited to get picked! I was just excited to know that they wanted me to fight there. That's what changed everything.
Coyote Duran: It took awhile for them to find an opponent. Was there any danger of the fight being cancelled altogether if no one came up?
Johnny Tapia: Well, you know, I've always believed in my promoters, Top Rank and whoever they were gonna get me, I was ready to go. But coming on to all this, you know, God has blessed me. Getting ready for me to fight. We got into good shape. We got into good training. Changed my trainer, have a different trainer. But you know what? I just wanna fight and especially to go to Chicago. You know, I just wanna fit in and just let people know that I'm there to fight and I'm gonna do the best I could.
Coyote Duran: Now, your opponent on Friday is Sandro Marcos............
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, Sandro Marcos!............Do you know anything about him, may I ask you?
Coyote Duran: He's pretty experienced, OK? He's got 24 wins. He's got 13 losses and 2 draws. He's got 20 knockouts. But in his last four starts, he's lost and he's lost twice by knockout in those last four fights.
Johnny Tapia: OK.
Coyote Duran: If you could be honest, Johnny, do you think he's a serious challenge for a fighter of your caliber?
Johnny Tapia: Well, you know what, in the sport of boxing, you can get beat. It only takes one. No matter how tough you are. No matter how strong you are. No matter what you gotta do, it only takes one in this type of fight. But the truth is: I will be ready. I will do what I have to do and take whatever it takes to win. (Teresa yells at someone in background.)
Coyote Duran: What do you plan on weighing come fight night?
Johnny Tapia: Well, we have to weigh at '26. Both of us.
Coyote Duran: Contract weight is at featherweight.
Johnny Tapia: I think. Yeah, it's the contract weight. I've never fought over '26.
Coyote Duran: With such short notice, being that you had to wait to get an opponent, how do you plan on working Marcos?
Johnny Tapia: I don't even know nothing about Marcos! I don't know nothing. Never seen him fight. I didn't even get a film of his fight. I have nothing!
Coyote Duran: That's a helluva risk, dude.
Johnny Tapia: Yeah. You're right. You know what? I'm risking everything. But once he hits me, it's on. I think all the game plan went out the door. (Both laugh.) When the legs are wobbly, let's go.
Coyote Duran: Johnny, should you get past Marcos, what are your plans?................
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) Do you know if Marcos can take a body shot?
Coyote Duran: Say what?
Johnny Tapia: Do you know if he gets hit by the head shots or body shots?
Coyote Duran: I don't know. Judging from what I've read of his past record, he has lost by knockout. He's lost by technical knockout and knockout once each in his past four fights so you know,..........uh,.......it behooves me to to not give a fighter advice since all I do is write. I wouldn't wanna steer you wrong. He's taken on some good competition in the past.
Johnny Tapia: I hear he's fought world champions!
Coyote Duran: Oh, yeah! He's fought a few from what I know. I mean, 24-13? It's not that terrible a record.
Johnny Tapia: No.
Coyote Duran: We shouldn't be fooled by mere numbers.
Johnny Tapia: Hey, you know what? I never take nobody lightly. I fight everybody like I'm fighting Mike Tyson. You know what? I trained hard for it. I'm pretty sure he's (Marcos) ready for it, too. That's what it takes, you know?
Coyote Duran: This is a fight that's gonna be televised on Telefutura on Solo Boxeo...........
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) You know if they're showing it on Univision?
Coyote Duran: Telefutura.
Johnny Tapia: Oh! Telefutura! OK! They told me it was Univision today, but.........well, you know more than I do. You're the writer. I'm just the fighter!
Coyote Duran: And it's at the Aragon Ballroom which is a great venue. You're gonna love it.
Johnny Tapia: How many people does it hold?
Coyote Duran: To tell you the truth, the Aragon Ballroom, which we used to call the "Brawlroom" in our day, it's a place where a lot of big rock acts have played and still play. Stuff like that. It holds about 4,500-5,000 people. I could be wrong, but I've gotta tell ya, from the past fights I've seen there, the crowd is incredible. They love boxing, plain and simple.
Johnny Tapia: I didn't realize or know what it held or whatever. I just wanna go and want the people to know that I'm there to respect them all. I want people to know that I'm gonna give them the best that I've got and if it comes for me to get down and throw low blows in front of everybody? Let's go for it! I'm kind of stubborn in that way. I mean, I'm a beautiful boxer, no cockiness, all jokes to the side. I'm also...........I can slug! (Both laugh.) You know, I'll be in his face if he wants me to be in his face.
Coyote Duran: there was a lot of talk earlier this year about you possibly facing (IBF Junior Featherweight titleholder) Israel Vasquez?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, we were both supposed to do that, what, four months ago?
Coyote Duran: Yeah! What happened? Why did the fight fall through?
Johnny Tapia: Well, you know, the contracts went different ways, went real flaky. The truth is, I really don't know. That would've been a really good war between both of us.
Coyote Duran: Vasquez is a good guy and a great titleholder but I know that you've got a history with the IBF and I know that when it came time for you to defend the featherweight belt you won from Manuel Medina, you two didn't want to pay the $20,000 exemption fee when you wanted to face Marco Antonio Barrera. I thought it was commendable. It was great!
Johnny Tapia: You know what? They (The IBF) were trying to do everything in the book against me. They were paid under the table to beat me. You know how the business is, right?
Coyote Duran: Well, Johnny, as a writer, I've always made it known that I respect every fighter but in the same breath, I can't stand sanctioning bodies. To me, for the IBF to pull that crap with some sort of bullshit "non-refundable" exemption fee, you guys did the right thing giving up that strap to take on Barrera when you did.
Johnny Tapia: You know what? If you put all the belts (Regional and major) I've won together and check how much title defenses I've got together, I've got like 29 between all of 'em. I mean, how many people can say that? Went 13 years undefeated? I had 13 title defenses of one belt. I can't complain with what kind of career I have. You know, outside of the ring, I had a lot of problems. But inside the ring, I've done everything I basically can do by the grace of God, for helping me and guiding me and protecting me. I'm still here at 38 years old, man! I've taken my hits. I've seen some angels! (Both laugh) But I've also given 'em too, you know? I've never been beat up bad. And how many people can really say that in the sport of boxing?
Coyote Duran: Not a lot, in all honesty.
Johnny Tapia: From the old-timers to the new-timers!
Coyote Duran: You split two fights with another hometown boy, Frankie Archuleta.
Johnny Tapia: Yep. I won one. He won one. And in the first one, I had pneumonia and bronchitis!
Coyote Duran: You didn't wanna give up the fight. You didn't wanna............
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) It was sold out! It was sold out and I was not gonna do the people like that. You know I love the people. I love people and I was not gonna stop it. I was supposed to stop it then I was supposed to go to the hospital right after. I was supposed to go to the hospital before! And you know what? I still fought like that.
Coyote Duran: Is it true that you guys are really cool with each other right now?
Johnny Tapia: Me and Frankie?
Coyote Duran: Yeah.
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, we're partners.
Coyote Duran: Really?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, we're friends.
Coyote Duran: That's cool, man.
Johnny Tapia: You know, I'm also friends with Danny Romero too. I've had friends and enemies.
Coyote Duran: On a more serious note, Johnny, you've been through a whole helluva lot in your life.
Johnny Tapia: Yeah.
Coyote Duran: And out of respect for you, I don't feel I have to rehash details but what is it about Johnny Tapia that makes "Mi Vida Loca" such a tangible thing?
Johnny Tapia: Ah........it's a true life story. You know, I went off the cliff (Referring to an actual incident years ago.). I went off the cliff good. I went off the cliff 80 feet down. The girl next to me died, went out through the windshield. Killed her and her daughter.
Coyote Duran: Oh.........
Johnny Tapia: I seemed to survive that. (Thinking)........My mom was stabbed, uh, 22 times and raped. That was in '75. My dad got shot at gunpoint. Uh, I've died and come back a few times. I was in a coma, my last one, 36 hours. Life support for two days. Seemed to come back and fight the champion, the #1 contender from Mexico, (Carlos) Contreras. He was an upcoming champion. He wanted to fight me. I fought him. I beat him. Uh.....I been through Hell and back........It's just been........shot at gunpoint. I just, you know what? God has put angels around me and He's given me such a beautiful family that I live with. I'll be married now for 13 years. I've been with my wife now for 13 years but we're going on 14. Married 12. I just had a newborn baby.
Coyote Duran: Congratulations on that!
Johnny Tapia: Right after Frankie, we had a newborn baby.
Coyote Duran: That's gotta be just wonderful for you, Johnny.
Johnny Tapia: His name is Johnny Tomas Nikolai. My other one, the 5-year old, is Johnny Lee Lorenzo Tapia. My other one is Solomon Jonathan! You know, I have such a beautiful family. My "mom" lives with me, my wife's mom.
Coyote Duran: My wife and I just celebrated our 14th on the 14th.
Johnny Tapia: Hey! Congratulations, partner! We'll have to win this fight for you, right? This one is for you and your wife, for your anniversary!
Coyote Duran: That would be cool, man.
Johnny Tapia: Hey, my anniversary is March, the 20th! I will be going on 13 years married. And my birthday is on February 13th! But it's just a blessing to have a good woman behind you, right?
Coyote Duran: Absolutely! You mentioned your connection to God and spirituality and in relation to that, being a naive of New Mexico has always been a huge part of you. My ancestors come from that area, the Mescalero.
Johnny Tapia: So's my wife! (Shouting to Teresa in the background.) You're one-half Apache, right? My wife's one-half Apache.
Coyote Duran: There's like 18 or 19 tribal groups from that area.............
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) She's from, uh, Budape.........aw, she's a quarter......sorry, she's full-blooded when she gets pissed off!
Coyote Duran: (Laughs)
Johnny Tapia: (To Teresa) He wants to know if you're full-blooded when you get mad.......(Back to me) She's even stabbed me!
Coyote Duran: Aw, come on, man. Are you serious?!
Johnny Tapia: Yeah. She's good with a knife. As a matter of fact, I told her that O.J. got away with it and that Robert Blake did and then she said "So did Lorena Bobbitt!"...........So I shut up. (Both laugh)
Coyote Duran: (Laughs) Dude, that's terrible! Well, I was gonna ask you, about the spirituality of the area...............
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) Are you Dutch, too?
Coyote Duran: Say what? (Laughs)
Johnny Tapia: Are you Dutch?
Coyote Duran: I've got 1/4 Irish and 1/4 German.
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, she's Dutch. I can't hang with her but I also married her. (Laughs) I'm Italian and Spanish!
Coyote Duran: Dude, she keeps you in line though, huh?
Johnny Tapia: Ah, well, you know, I get out ahead quite a bit, here and there but, she knows when to come back at me.
Coyote Duran: I know you're very religious, Johnny and...........
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) Oh, yes, I am.
Coyote Duran: There's a huge spitirituality about New Mexico, especially with all the different tribal relations and connections. Is there a spirituality connected to that, which keeps you in touch and in love with New Mexico?
Johnny Tapia: Oh, you know, you've got everybody. You know, they say whoever's got God can go against you, right?
Coyote Duran: I've heard that.
Johnny Tapia: Well, you know what, they've got those sweat boxes for the Apache?
Coyote Duran: Absolutely!
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, it's like 3 rounds if you can gang, right? It's pretty hot, man! I've never tried if but I would love to! They have 'em all all through the nations too.....We have Apache. I fact my little niece is Apache! We've got a lot of Apaches in the house. But as a matter of fact, my wife's great grandmother was full-blooded Apache!
Coyote Duran: Getting back to Teresa. She's been a rock to you. That's been no secret. Honestly, don't hold back...........
Johnny Tapia: (Cutting in) Naw, I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you the truth!
Coyote Duran: I'd like you to tell my readers, if you would, how Teresa affects your life personally and professionally.
She's right here!...........Can you hold on a minute, boss? (Johnny then fades into the background and attends to something family-oriented.)Johnny Tapia: (Returning) I'm sorry, Boss!!
Coyote Duran: No problem, dude.
Johnny Tapia: I was gonna say, Boss, you were telling me how much Teresa means to me?
Coyote Duran: I wanted to know how, in your words, as honestly and openly as you can, as tribute to what your wife is to you, how has Teresa Tapia affected your life in the ring and out?
Johnny Tapia: Well, the truth is, I love my wife and the other truth is, without my wife, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. I probably wouldn't be alive. My wife and kids are everything to me. My wife taking over as a manager back in '94? (To a little one in the background) Watch out! Be careful! (Back to me) My baby's choking. Sorry. (To Teresa) He wants a little piece. (Back to me) The truth is, my wife has been my whole rock. She's been my inspiration in striving for bigger and better things. She's been wanting me to quit for a long time! But she said she never wanted to take away from me because of the situation, knowing that I would be mad because I wasn't ready to.........to get out of boxing. But you know what? When I died,........when I died, she held my hand and I came back. A few times, I died. 5 times already. And every time, she held my hand, I woke up. And she's the angel on my side, man. And the angel on my back, her and my mom, you know?
Coyote Duran: Yeah.
Johnny Tapia: But my wife has been there through thick and thin. I put here through a lot of Hell. And also, we have a lot of beauty to go with it. But she's probably the only manage a fighter to manage a six-time world champion. You know what? I put her through a lot, first but, uh, we've got such a beautiful life now and God's blessed us and gives us a brand-new baby and we have two other babies. It's just..........I don't know where I'd be today without 'em. I probably do know where I'd be. As a matter of fact, I just got recognized by New Mexico legislators for my career. I mean, things are just starting to pop up and it's just an amazing story all around. I just..... I don't know if I told you but I just signed a book with Walt Disney, now.
Coyote Duran: A book deal?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, it comes out on the.........(Turning to Teresa) What's the name of the book? Can I say what.......? What's the name of the book? No, who did I say that.........? A book. A bonuses book? I think it comes from New York but the movie's with (CSI, Con Air) Jerry Bruckheimer and it'll be done, too.
Coyote Duran: Serious?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah, I did a book and a movie deal! The book comes out in October.
Coyote Duran: I'm grabbing one of those suckers.
Johnny Tapia: Hey, man, you know, I'll get that book for you, man! Let me know! And the movie comes out, I think, next year. It comes off the book so you know, if there's so many kids out there that read this book and see that you'll go fight to keep that dream alive, no matter how many times you fall, you gotta pick yourself up and be successful. I don't ever wanna be an idol because my idol's God. But I would like to let them know that no matter what, how tough things go, no matter how rough it gets, if you've got beautiful people behind you, you can make it.
Coyote Duran: Johnny, it's been said on numerous occasions that you're an absolute shoo-in for the Hall of Fame when you decide to retire.
Johnny Tapia: You know, as a matter of fact, they just hung my robe in the Hall of Fame! It's up there.
Coyote Duran: A robe from a particular fight?
Johnny Tapia: Aw, well, you know, just a robe made, the first robe I ever had made. It's in Calif.......it's, uh, .........what the Hell do you call that? (Turns to Teresa) T, where's the Hall of Fame at?
Coyote Duran: Canastota.
Johnny Tapia: (To Teresa) The Hall of Fame.
Coyote Duran: Canastota, New York.
Johnny Tapia: (To Teresa) No, the one.......... (Back to me) Canastota, New York. That's where it's at.
Coyote Duran: (Laughing) That's the one!
Johnny Tapia: Yeah. That's the one. I couldn't snap with that. You know me. Too much about The Hall of Fame. I just love the fights. I just love to fight. I never thought I was gonna get this far. I knew if I had a chance, I could box, I could win the title. But I got greedy.
Coyote Duran: When the time comes for you to stop, Johnny, do you see yourself being involved in the sport, post-career?
Johnny Tapia: You know what? I love to help out anybody if it's on the streets or walking or if it's being in the ring. I mean, I've got a lot of experience in this game of boxing. I can hold the mitts. I can train. I trained a few fighters that won two belts already! But the truth is, I can never get out of the sport that I was in. You know, I love helping people. I love taking them to another level. I'm also getting help for myself. I just care so much for people and I love people so much. The truth is, I'm honest, but I can never help myself. I'm starting to see it around now that.........I couldn't find myself happy after what they did to my mother. And as a matter of fact now, in the book, they just found out the killer of my mother. He went back to get her after she went to the hospital. After he stabbed her 22 times and then raped her and then she went into the hospital. He did her some damage with, uh............., some kind of pipe.
Coyote Duran: Was he ever arrested?
Johnny Tapia: No, uh, .............they let him go because, he was buying everybody. But you know what? He got ran over by 3 cars. And the truth is, I found out where the family lives.
Coyote Duran: The man who did this's family?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah. I found out where all the family is. Brothers and everything. I was gonna tell my whole family, "Go by." I was gonna go get some people, too. I was gonna go get some people, too. I was gonna go do the same to one of them. What they did to my mom.
Coyote Duran: But why, Johnny?
Johnny Tapia: Revenge! You know how that is!
Coyote Duran: (Stunned) But, I mean,........you can't, I mean,......but how would you have felt knowing that you have a faith in God and spirituality? I mean, is an "eye for an eye" specifically right when it was really none of their faults for what their relative did?
Johnny Tapia:You know what? You are right. This is what happened: After accepting the Lord in your heart, Jesus Christ into your life.............I have to forgive this guy to go on with my life because you know what? I've got to look at my kids every morning. I've got to sleep with my wife. And the truth is that, I love my family. This is just a..........how did you say this in the Hispanic world? You know, "Blood in, blood out."? But, my truth is, I had to (Back to one of the kids)......OK, hold on! (Back to me) That's my little boy, man! I had to forgive this guy and let God take care of him while I can open up and be with my kids! (Back to Teresa) He's tired, Teresa. (Back to me) As a matter of fact, I have to look at my kids and, I'll always love my kids but I can love my kids and my wife and say, "You know what? My mom's in a better place than we're at. Better than we're at." And the truth is, right now, is I'm living the good life, and I just hope and pray that he's (Tapia's mother's killer) gotta face the Lord, no? God takes over what God takes over and that's part of everything. That's what made my life stronger and made my life better. By forgiving. People ask me, "How can you forgive?". Well, to forgive to have to forget, no?" That's one of the reasons things have changed in my life.
Coyote Duran: In the long term, Johnny, you made the right decision.
Johnny Tapia: You know what? I thank you. That's why I tell people, when they ask what they can do for me, I just tell them, "Pray for me." That's it. That's all I ask. "Can I do a favor for you?" Yes. You can just say one prayer for me. And you know what? Ever since I get that one prayer, I feel it. I love it. And there's nothing else I can ask for.
Coyote Duran: How long do you plan on sticking around the city after the fight?
Johnny Tapia: This is one of the great cities in the world, man. I love it. I wanna go meet everybody! As much people as I can meet and hug! That's what I wanna do!
Coyote Duran: Really?
Johnny Tapia: Oh, heck yeah. That's my dream. I love to see people. I love to see smiles on the peoples' faces. I love to give 'em a hug and let them know I'm just like them. Two arms and two feet. It's not a celebrity lifestyle. It's not being a champion. It's being a peoples' person. And that's what I've always been.
Coyote Duran: One last thing, Johnny. Do you have any words for your fans back in the "505" and throughout the world?
Johnny Tapia: Yeah! I just wanna tell the people back in the "505", that we're putting Albuquerque back on the map. The state of New Mexico back on the map. There's a lot of good fighters, great fighters in the state of New Mexico. I just wanna put New Mexico back on the map. I'm gonna try and do that this weekend. I'll just tell everybody back in the "505" to just say a prayer for me and, uh, I'll do the rest.
Coyote Duran: I thank you very much Johnny. I appreciate so much your sharing so much with me and my readers.
Johnny Tapia: You know what? I'll always do that. Whenever you need me, all it takes is a call and if I can tell you the truth, you know I ain't gonna lie to you.
Coyote Duran: Thank you, brother.
Johnny Tapia: Thank you. God bless you. Be safe. And keep me in your prayers. please.
Talking Boxing would love to thank Johnny Tapia and his terrific wife Teresa for sharing an occasion to share so much with Johnny's fans and us.
Coyote Duran can be reached at coyoteduran@talkingboxing.com
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