It has been 13 years to the day since Johnny “Mi Vida Loca” Tapia climbed through the old ropes at the iconic York Hall in Bethnal Green, London and took on Eduardo Alvarez in a 10-round Featherweight special.
The fight itself was on the undercard of Julio Pablo Chacon vs. Victor Polo bout, however a partisan crowd from all over the UK flocked in droves to catch a glimpse of the unpredictable Tapia, proving that the main event was unquestionably the latter.
There was a buzz of anticipation in the air as the former four-weight world champion walked to the ring with the cheers utterly deafening. Most in attendance knew that the Argentinean challenger was very limited indeed, but they were there for only one man.
As the opening bell sounded, Tapia was his ferocious self, hunting down Alvarez with vicious attacks to the body and head. Alvarez struggled to keep up with Tapia’s renowned pace, finding himself forced back very early on and it seemed inevitable that the fight would be over in a flash.
The end came with 1:22 remaining in the first round, the 34 year old Tapia attacked Alvarez, with a left hook to the body then a right hand to the temple, which spelt the end for the man known as “El Gallego.”
It was an unforgettable moment in York Hall’s long history of boxing, as Johnny treated the fans to his trademark back flip, bringing to an end a very successful UK debut.
Mi Vida Loca staggeringly went on to fight for another 9 more years, unfortunately though his better days were behind him.
Extremely humble, yet so fierce, Johnny Tapia was revered by many all over the globe. But the dark demons which followed him, were as misunderstood as they were captivating.
Throughout his incredible rollercoaster career, Tapia was the epitome of the inner battle a fighter faces, which is far beyond the realms a boxing ring could ever replicate.
Johnny Tapia was a lovable icon with a clear heart of gold, who gripped almost everyone within the business, whether it was his heart-breaking childhood story or his unrelenting fighting style, Tapia was a fighter for the people and the people loved him.
He will be sorely missed in boxing and that memorable night at York Hall will live long in the memory of everyone who witnessed it, myself included!
Header photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images
