Johnny Tapia, Former Boxing Champ Passes

Johnny Tapia, age 45, a five-time champion in three weight classes, was found dead in his family home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The underdog champion was one of those Rocky stories with a dark side.  


"I was raised as a pit bull," he added. "Raised to fight to the death. Four times I was declared dead. Four times they wanted to pull life support. And many more times I came close to dying."


Through all the mayhem and messiness of a troubled life, there is one thing anybody who's ever seen Tapia in the ring will say; the man had the heart of a lion and feared absolutely nobody.


The bell rings 10 times for a fallen warrior.

Book by Johnny Tapia: Mi Vida Loca