Johnny Tapia

[jaymitch81]

Anyone got a link to the TAPIA documentary which was aired last night?

Love watching Tapia's fights on youtube and his book is the best boxing autobiography I have read.

[handsofstone]

What channel did it air on,was it in the US?

I wouldnt mind seeing that,even in the boxing world his life was bat shit crazy,the movie would seem far fetched

[jaymitch81]

It aired on HBO last night. I know skyatlantic have no plans to show it here in the UK so was hoping to get a link somewhere

[matko]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cr9yp_tapia_auto
Was aired on HBO last night enjoy
What a talent imagine if he was disciplined and lived a clean life
RIP champ

[palooka]

Cheers matt

[jaymitch81]

Cheers mate

Could of been one of the greatest....or is he classed as one anyway?

[matko]

Don't think classed or maybe I'm wrong, but defiantly 1 of best in last 20 years very athletic aswell as strong and great engine. I must of watched Romaro vs tapia over 20 times remember when they boxed and ordering it from back pages of boxing monthly, still got the tape classic fight!!

[JamieM]

Amazing viewing, what a fighter he was, love watching his fights on YouTube,

[Taansend]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cr9yp_tapia_auto
Was aired on HBO last night enjoy
What a talent imagine if he was disciplined and lived a clean life
RIP champ

I know what you are saying but......

If he had been the sort of person to live a disciplined & clean life he wouldn't have been Johnny Tapia. He might well have gone to community college & become a councilor for abused kids.

Same with George Best, Alex Higgins, Tony Ayala Jnr, Paul Gascoigne, etc etc. It's likely that the demons that drove them to crash & burn were the same ones that pushed them up.

[stevieb_8006]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cr9yp_tapia_auto
Was aired on HBO last night enjoy
What a talent imagine if he was disciplined and lived a clean life
RIP champ

Cheers for posting that!

He wouldn't have been the same fighter without the madness I don't think.

He always reminded me of a tortoise, how his neck hung and his head bobbed from side to side.

Legend. Great book.

[Omerta]

Brilliant fighter, really tragic story, very moving documentary to watch, the sport could do with more characters like him around today

[Fantastic Giants]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cr9yp_tapia_auto
Was aired on HBO last night enjoy
What a talent imagine if he was disciplined and lived a clean life
RIP champ

Great stuff thanks

[jaymitch81]

Superb documentary...Absolute legend.

Any other documentaries worth a watch? I've seen a couple on Gatti but more around circumstances of his death.

[reggaereggae]

Superb documentary...Absolute legend.

Any other documentaries worth a watch? I've seen a couple on Gatti but more around circumstances of his death.

Klitschko is worth a watch. Nothing earth shattering but very interesting.

As to Tapia, I was lucky enough to watch him fight at York Hall and I also met him afterwards.

I read his biography, crazy story, but unfortunately it was not well written. Are they planning a Hollywood film of his life?

[palooka]

Superb documentary...Absolute legend.

Any other documentaries worth a watch? I've seen a couple on Gatti but more around circumstances of his death.

The Wilfredo Gomez documentary 'Bazooka' is really good, so is 'Assault in the Ring' about Billy Collins Jnr, 'When We Were Kings' is very good as well.

[boxref]

Thank you for posting the link Matko. I've just watched it. Very moving. I refereed Johnny when he came over here to fight at York hall. I'd heard of his reputation and thought he would be awkward when I gave him my pre fight instructions in the dressing room. I couldn't have been more wrong. He was an absolute gentleman, and after my instructions we chatted about life in general. On leaving the dressing room, he gave me the biggest hug ever. I know he had his demons, but on that day he was ok. I was genuinely upset when I heard of his passing. RIP CHAMP.

[Broomhall]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cr9yp_tapia_auto
Was aired on HBO last night enjoy
What a talent imagine if he was disciplined and lived a clean life
RIP champ

I know what you are saying but......

If he had been the sort of person to live a disciplined & clean life he wouldn't have been Johnny Tapia. He might well have gone to community college & become a councilor for abused kids.

Same with George Best, Alex Higgins, Tony Ayala Jnr, Paul Gascoigne, etc etc. It's likely that the demons that drove them to crash & burn were the same ones that pushed them up.

Thats a good post. Genius often comes with a price tag, but life would be a boring journey without the crazy guys.

[magwitch]

Thank you for posting the link Matko. I've just watched it. Very moving. I refereed Johnny when he came over here to fight at York hall. I'd heard of his reputation and thought he would be awkward when I gave him my pre fight instructions in the dressing room. I couldn't have been more wrong. He was an absolute gentleman, and after my instructions we chatted about life in general. On leaving the dressing room, he gave me the biggest hug ever. I know he had his demons, but on that day he was ok. I was genuinely upset when I heard of his passing. RIP CHAMP.

nice memory, cheers for sharing. I bought his book whilst in Manchester ironically going to see Marco Antonio Barrera. It's borderline unbelievable some of the stuff he had to deal with, at a young age too. RIP Champ indeed.

[matko]

Thank you for posting the link Matko. I've just watched it. Very moving. I refereed Johnny when he came over here to fight at York hall. I'd heard of his reputation and thought he would be awkward when I gave him my pre fight instructions in the dressing room. I couldn't have been more wrong. He was an absolute gentleman, and after my instructions we chatted about life in general. On leaving the dressing room, he gave me the biggest hug ever. I know he had his demons, but on that day he was ok. I was genuinely upset when I heard of his passing. RIP CHAMP.

Thanks ref
Keep up the good work

[Eddy]

Has Michael Gomez done a book? I know he's wasn't in the same level, but he's had an interesting life.

[rob h]

I watched the Tapia/Romero fight again, unreal. He had no fear, but why would you after you have been what he's been through.

[liamlion]

Thank you for the link to that documentary.

Truly tragic and so sad. What a boxer.

[stevieb_8006]

Has Michael Gomez done a book? I know he's wasn't in the same level, but he's had an interesting life.

I thought there was one in the pipeline. He's had a lot of problems in retirement hasn't he

[semtexreilly]

Just watched it there, really good, was tapia not linked with fighting naz at one point?

[palooka]

Has Michael Gomez done a book? I know he's wasn't in the same level, but he's had an interesting life.

I thought there was one in the pipeline. He's had a lot of problems in retirement hasn't he

Gomez is featured quite a lot in 'fighting chance' by Derick Alsop - it's a really good read, you might find it difficult to get a copy but it's on kindle. I enjoyed it, I think you would too.