New Mexico boxing legend Johnny Tapia was greeted by a group of four young boxers from the El Campeon Boxing Club of Española as he arrived for a press conference Feb. 11 at the Ohkay Casino.
“How are you doing guys?” Tapia asked with a smile.
The six-time world champion, who celebrated his 43rd birthday Feb. 13, was in the Valley to promote his upcoming fight March 6 that is billed as the “Battle for Redemption.” During the press conference, Tapia talked about his opponent, former sparring partner Jorge “El Jarito” Rivas. Rivas has a record of 21 wins, 27 losses and two draws. The fight’s weight-class has yet to be decided.
“He’s a hard hitter,” Tapia, of Albuquerque, said. ”He wants to knock me out but it’s not going to happen here in Española.”
After the formalities of the press conference, Tapia talked openly about his past with reporters. Tapia was hospitalized in critical condition in March 2007 for a suspected cocaine overdose and subsequently was convcited of drug possession. He had been released last month from the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas after being imprisoned for four months on a parole violation. He had violated parole by going to Red River to help in the search of a missing relative, who was later found dead.
“It’s been a long, hard year,” Tapia said. “I want to make this year better by all means.”
Tapia’s last fight was a victory by majority decision over Evaristo Primero Feb. 23, 2007, at Isleta Casino in Albuquerque. He calls his upcoming non-title bout a way to relieve the stress of the past year.
“The great thing about boxing is you get to hit someone and not go to jail for it,” Tapia said. “And I get a check.”
Tapia’s trainer Henry Anaya Jr. said Tapia is ready for the bout.
“I’d be the first to tell him if he didn’t have it,” Anaya Jr. said. “Johnny still has it.”
Tapia has a record of 56 wins, five losses and two draws. He made his professional debut in 1988 but still thinks he has something left in the tank.
“I’ve done everything in the sport of boxing,” he said. ”It’s showing that you don’t have to look back at everything that is negative. No matter how many times you fall, you can pick yourself up and be successful.”
Tapia said he has not used illegal drugs for over a year.
“I stayed clean in there (prison) and I know I can stay clean out here,” he said. “It’s only for today I’m clean because yesterday’s gone and tomorrow never comes. Today, I’m OK. I’ve got my wife and kids with me.”
It was obvious that Tapia was back in his element as he taped up his hands, slid on his gloves and sparred with his trainer. A group of four young boxers knelt and watched raptly as Tapia moved around a makeshift ring. They moved their fists emulating Tapia as he smacked the mitts of his trainer.
“I’m happy with where I’m at,” he said. “I’m enjoying life again.”
The preliminary professional bouts at the “Battle for Redemption” will start at 6 p.m. and include the professional debut of Tapia’s 18-year old son, Jonathan Chavez-Tapia. Also making his professional debut will be Chris Anaya, the son of Tapia’s trainer. Carlos Sanchez of Albuquerque will fight in a featured bout at 155 pounds.
Before the professional fights begin in the evening, El Campeon will hold 10 amateur bouts featuring local fighters that afternoon. Tapia had visited the Española boxing club Feb. 10 and later dined at Socorro’s Restaurant in Hernandez.
“We had him over last night,” Francisco “Pancho“ Flores, of El Campeon, said. ”It’s a great thing being able to reach out to these kids.”
Tickets for the fight are available at the Ohkay Casino box office, by phone at (877) 840-0457 and online at TicketForce.com. General admission costs $25 and ringside seating $125.
Monica Lovato
Withdraws from Bout
Española fighter Monica Lovato has withdrawn from a previously scheduled mixed-martial arts fight to be held March 6 at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Pojoaque.
Lovato said in a phone message Feb. 10 that she was close to graduating from massage school and wished to concentrate on her studies.