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Throb · Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:04 pm LA VIDA LOCA CALLS TIME

From Sky Sports

This Friday night in his home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Johnny Tapia will be taking part in what he has guaranteed will be the last fight of his long and successful career.

Tapia wants to go out with a win since his most recent fight, in September 2005, was a stoppage loss in just two rounds to journeyman Sandro Marcos. Marcos had lost four fights in a row before facing Tapia and since that fight he lost three more times.

He has always been a nice guy outside the ring to his countless fans and opponents. Each time he fights, he gives everything and more to please the audience.

But Tapia is almost as famous for his life outside of boxing. Coincidentally born on Friday the 13th in 1967, Tapia became a drug addict, was on life support and declared dead four times.

His mother and father were both murdered - his father before he was born, his mother was physically attacked and killed when he was just eight.

Tapia, who is covered in tattoos, has always had huge support from his wife and manager, Theresa, who has been by his side through thick and thin every step of the way - even though he was charged with spousal abuse for pulling a loaded gun on her.

He has spent time in jail and was banned from boxing for 3½ years for cocaine addiction. Nicknamed "Mi Vida Loca" (My Crazy Life) he has been through it all.

He can fight, having won multiple belts, and he drops his hands calling his opponents on. When he tastes blood he says it makes his fight harder. He's not a big puncher but he is strong. But he has had to fight even harder outside of the ring to keep his demons away and stay alive.

His last outing will be against Ilido Julio, 35 years old, from Colombia.

Throb · Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:59 am

Tapia wont the fight by majority, adios Johhny "tu vida bueno"