Johnny Tapia vs Rodolfo Blanco - Showtime 2-13-98 - video Dailymotion

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Watch Johnny Tapia vs Rodolfo Blanco - Showtime 2-13-98 - SteckmetX on Dailymotion

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00:00:00main event hometown product Johnny Tapia squares off with top 10 rated

00:00:03Rodolfo Blanco for the IBF and WBO junior phantom weight championship well to

00:00:10say that the road to success has been bumpy for Johnny Tapia is an

00:00:13understatement the fact that he has lived to see his 31st birthday today

00:00:17maybe one of boxing's biggest upsets his biography reads like a Hollywood script

00:00:22complete with murders deadly crashes and drugs only Tapia story isn't a

00:00:26fictional movie it is stark reality and it all began right here in the city of

00:00:32Albuquerque

00:00:38boxing is my life it's a way of getting through life

00:00:46you give me a black I pick my nose is like I don't care come on but give me

00:00:50another black guy I love boxing and I won't be where I'm at today if I didn't

00:00:55have boxing I had my mom murdered at seven years old she was stabbed 21 times

00:01:02and hung and it was a it was a it took my life it was very brutal she's very caring

00:01:09loving something that everybody else would think about their mother about

00:01:16being next to cuddling I was raised with no love and it's hard to get it now

00:01:23man I get that crowd going I want to give them what they want to see it I'm not a type that runs I'm not a type if they want to see some blood let's get it on they don't give a hit it don't make no difference to me because I'll give it to them too

00:01:38and if I get it I'll lick it we'll go again

00:01:40in 1990 I got in trouble I was found dirty and I got a suspension I was out for three years and six months

00:01:53well you got to understand when you become a celebrity things come at you from every direction

00:01:58if you don't know how to control it why are you gonna go in the wrong way and with me trying coke was

00:02:05the first time was a mistake me trying to get in that party was a habit I was arrested my life went

00:02:12down because all I know how to do is box they took what I loved away from me and I also deserved it you

00:02:19know I I don't blame nobody all the fault for me the biggest fight was Danny but it was my easiest I

00:02:27didn't come out with a scratch a scratch at all you know me I come out with scratches and bumps and losers

00:02:33but it was nothing now I love my mama I miss her with all my heart you know I dedicated to her I'm not

00:02:43supposed to be here today I'm not supposed to be driving a nice car I'm not supposed to have one or

00:02:48two houses hey I'm walking and I'm happy and I got Jesus on my side and ain't nobody gonna ever

00:02:58take that away from me well in addition to the tragedies discussed in the piece Johnny Tappy's

00:03:08father was murdered before he was born at the age of 12 Tappy was on a bus that drove off of a cliff

00:03:14some of the passengers were killed but Johnny escaped with only a concussion well back to the

00:03:20fight doctor here Ferdy are you surprised number one that Tappy is still boxing number two he's still

00:03:25breathing well number one is the surprise anytime you have that overwhelming amount of bad luck you

00:03:31usually flame out in life and go on down the down to defeat however this young man found his salvation in

00:03:37in a hometown who loved him found his salvation in a woman who backed him completely he's one of the

00:03:44luckiest men on earth because he has boxing to get him out because there's a woman to stand here at him

00:03:49and 13,000 people here to see him tonight that is a great amount of luck in Tappy's life and despite the

00:03:56he's a great amount of luck perhaps because of what this young man has been through he has become a very warm and engaging

00:04:04personality you can hear the fans already getting into it in the background chatting for Johnny Tappy

00:04:09let's get your keys to victory for tonight's main event well Johnny Tappy is a quick and unorthodox guy he likes to give a lot of

00:04:15different angles and you'll see when he's in the ring he's standing here as an orthodox fighter he'll move

00:04:20those hands and those feet in a matter of a second or two and switch to southwest style here against Augusto

00:04:25Tappy on the left quick jab from the left hand side and staggers his opponent with a straight left hand

00:04:30but now watch he switches the feedback immediately again to come at him from the orthodox side and

00:04:34clean up on a new combination he really is an unorthodox fighter who's got good speed and come at you from

00:04:39any angle here you'll see on the inside something likes to do a double left hook instead of under and

00:04:43over he goes over then down under something that's very nice mixing up his combinations the left hook up

00:04:47and bottom and here he is Tappy again on the right hand side he's going to step out with his right hand

00:04:51rock as we say fire the right hand over the top left hook underneath

00:04:55and follow combinations he's very sharp he's unorthodox but he's also good he mixes combinations

00:05:00Steve very very well all right Bobby as we take a look at Blanco he's got to close the gap he's on the

00:05:08left hand side you'll see him coming in he has to duck what Tappy brings in he'll see Tappy comes

00:05:12there's his opponent shoot me here come in that's Tappy's going he's got to get under it and fire the left

00:05:16hand right hooks that's what he's got to do once again he's going to close the gap Blanco on the right

00:05:20he's going to come in try and get underneath the punches let the punches go over his head but

00:05:25he's got a counter here he's going to use a nice right hand over the top follow the left hook the

00:05:29left hook's not clean but the right hand is he's going to be Tappy because of the same height doesn't

00:05:34mean anything he has to get on the inside he's not quicker and he doesn't have the reach he has to get

00:05:38inside and under the punches all right those are your X's and O's for tonight's main event right now

00:05:42let's get into a rather unusual aspect of this fight normally in boxing a fighter's wife while

00:05:47remaining loyal and supportive stays clear of her husband's business in and out of the ring but then

00:05:52there's Teresa Tapia Teresa not only Johnny's wife she's his fight manager and lifeblood

00:05:58I have to disengage myself emotionally because I am his manager and his wife

00:06:09there's certain hours in the day that you know if I'm on the phone I'm not dealing with the people

00:06:16as Johnny's wife I'm dealing with him as Johnny's manager it's not hard for me to deal with people

00:06:21or be aggressive because I'm fighting for my husband and just like he goes in there and he fights to make

00:06:26living for us that's my time to fight for him and I'm not going to run down but some of the nicest

00:06:32things that I've dealt with are meeting Don King he treated me as an equal we're very happy with Mr. King

00:06:38and we know he's going to lead us in the right direction the hardest thing is about being married

00:06:43to a fighter I don't know per se about all fighters but Johnny is he's he's a fighter that's very

00:06:51complicated because he didn't have love growing up he's struggling with the drug addiction

00:06:56he has to climb in the ring and hit somebody or get hit that's true but at the same time that's the

00:07:03safest place for him and it may sound crazy but he can't go wrong in there that's where he dominates

00:07:09that's where Johnny is free to be what he really is meant to be he's a true warrior he has the heart

00:07:14of a lion and there's no one that can stop him in there there's nothing that can touch him

00:07:19nothing in the world can hurt him when he's in that ring and it may sound crazy but that's the least

00:07:24time I worry about it I mean if Johnny gets a bloody nose that's not a big deal I've seen a lot worse

00:07:30I've seen him dead

00:07:31and on this night before Valentine's Day that is true love and there is Teresa in her husband's

00:07:43dressing room married five years now Johnny calls her the angel on my back he says Teresa is his wife

00:07:48his mother his therapist his doctor he told us he couldn't exist without her a most extraordinary

00:07:54bond and a most extraordinary relationship between the people of Albuquerque and a young

00:08:0131 year old by the name of Johnny Tapia as they patiently await for his gala ring entrance but before

00:08:09Johnny Tapia Rodolfo Blanco yes here is the man hoping to spoil Johnny Tapia's birthday celebration the

00:08:18challenger former IVF flyweight champion Rodolfo Blanco confident but humble as we bring him on in

00:08:39as you can hear Blanco walking into hostile territory is a rollercoaster career

00:09:09after a rugged start turned pro at age 15 in 1982 failed in his first two attempts at world titles but

00:09:16in his third try in 92 he won the IVF 112 pound belt avenging an earlier defeat to Dave McCauley lost the

00:09:24title five months later then he retired for three years he came back but he has lost four of his last

00:09:31six he did win the vacant NABF junior bantamweight crown a couple of fights back and I got to ask you

00:09:36say Mario Bertie is this the case where blanco's best chance is for Tapia to beat himself by not

00:09:42not containing his emotions yes definitely the chance that he's got is a negative on the part of

00:09:48tapio snap he gets a little bit too hysterical a little bit too strong or loses his head he gets

00:09:52into a fit into a fist fight where he can get a suffer cut eye where he can disqualify himself

00:09:58with any number of things that can happen in the ring as we have seen in the last year or two in

00:10:03showtime well that is the one way he can win for sure otherwise he's got a slim chance blanco's

00:10:09corner says experience will be the deciding factor well get set as they dim the lights here at the pit

00:10:19johnny tapia's co-manager tony holden has planned a grand entrance for this homecoming tapia a 30 to

00:10:26one favorite will be greeted by a five-minute laser light music introduction climaxed by a video two

00:10:33story wall coupling down in the street here we go

00:10:47so

00:10:53so

00:10:55so

00:13:03Saluting his friends here in Albuquerque.

00:13:07He feeds off the crowd, likes to work the fans into a frenzy.

00:13:10He won't need much help tonight.

00:13:12Can you imagine if this guy ever fights the prince?

00:13:23We'll never get out of here before 2 o'clock in the morning.

00:13:25Between his efforts and the other guys, that could be a forever.

00:13:28I don't think the world is ready for that yet.

00:13:31Tapia says when he steps into the ring, Bobby, something happens that he can't really explain.

00:13:37Everything just clicks in.

00:13:39And when you're 42-0-2, it's awfully tough to argue with that kind of logic.

00:13:43Well, that's an awful lot of clicking, Steve, but I understand how he feels.

00:13:46He's in the zone.

00:13:47He's in a place where he's comfortable, and it's his home.

00:13:49He's at home in the ring.

00:13:51That's where he is coming.

00:13:51In the violent world of boxing, I run.

00:13:55He says he feels most at peace when he's in the ring.

00:13:59And he normally backs up these theatrics with excellent boxing technique, good counterpunching, and an underrated defense.

00:14:07Let me ask you about this, Bobby.

00:14:09Tapia had no trainer as recently as two weeks ago.

00:14:13Abel Sanchez left to train Miguel and Helga Gonzalez for his part-7 fight with Julio Cesar Chavez in Mexico.

00:14:19Tommy Virgins in his corner tonight.

00:14:20How does all that factor in?

00:14:22You know what?

00:14:23That can factor in the trouble of the fighter because he wants to have confidence in his trainer.

00:14:27His trainer and he are the two most important facets to this machine.

00:14:31They're the two mechanical tools that get this done.

00:14:34He has to have a cohesive partner in the trainer, and I think that that's something he's going to fix in the near future.

00:14:39And a very religious, spiritual tapia with some last-second praying in his corner.

00:14:50The energy and the spirit can fuel anyone's adrenaline.

00:15:14As we take a look at the tail of the tape, the number's very even with the exception of the reach, five-inch reach advantage for Tapia listed at 68.

00:15:23Both 31, as mentioned Tapia's birthday today, the height almost the same, both right at the weight limit.

00:15:28One other interesting similarity as you take a look at the rules, both inactive three years, Tapia in the early 90s and drug rehab, Blanco in the mid-90s because of retirement.

00:15:38You see no standing eight, no three knocked down, a fighter can't be saved by the belt in any round.

00:15:43If it's stopped by an accidental headbutt before the end of the fourth, it's a technical draw.

00:15:47After the end of the fourth, they go to the cards.

00:15:50So here at the pit on the campus of the University of New Mexico, we are getting ready for the WBO IVF Junior Bantaway Championship.

00:15:59Johnny Tapia and Rodolfo Blanco, the official introductions from our ring announcer, the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.

00:16:05Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin our action at this time, we ask your attention for a solemn and important moment as we pause to recognize the unfortunate passing of one of our members of the boxing community who recently passed away.

00:16:21We speak of Polo Saucedo, whose wife is in the ring at this time, brother is in the ring at this time, and tonight Johnny Tapia dedicates his efforts to the memory of his great friend and a great fighter, Polo Saucedo.

00:16:35In addition, he, along with Don King, will be granting $10,000 to the family of Polo Saucedo.

00:16:46At this time, ladies and gentlemen, please rise for a moment of silence as our timekeeper tolls 10 in honor of the fallen Polo Saucedo.

00:16:56Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for your attention.

00:17:16May God rest his soul.

00:17:22Ladies and gentlemen, Don King Productions and State Eyes welcomes you to our featured bout of the evening here at the pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

00:17:37This is our main event coming away as sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization, President Francisco Valcarcel, Supervisor Stan Gallup,

00:17:51in conjunction with the International Boxing Federation, President Robert Lee, Sr., Supervisor Darryl Peoples,

00:17:58and the New Mexico State Athletic Commission.

00:18:00The chairman is Leo Dow, Commissioners Louie Burke, Joanna Aguilar, and Jim Lilly with the executive director, Ricardo Campos.

00:18:09Presenting to you our physician at ringside, Dr. Charles D. Milligan.

00:18:13Timekeeper at the bell, we have Terry McDowell.

00:18:15Keeping count of the knockdowns, Linda Jo Martinez.

00:18:18And presenting our judges, scoring this bout from ringside, William Gantz, Harold Gantz, Harold Gomes, and William Ray.

00:18:30All right, fans, here we go with our main event of the evening, 12 rounds of boxing,

00:18:37the beautification of the WDO and IBF Junior Bantamweight Championship of the World.

00:18:42And now, ladies and gentlemen in attendance, and boxing fans, joining us around the world,

00:18:51it's showtime!

00:18:58Introducing our referee in charge of this bout, he'll be giving instructions, Tony Rosales.

00:19:05Well, fans, here we go, introducing to you first the challenger on my left, fighting out of the blue corner.

00:19:12Entering the ring, wearing red zonks with white trim, originally from San Olofre, Colombia, now living in Miami, Florida.

00:19:22He weighed in at the junior Bantamweight limit of 115 pounds even, with a record of 29 wins, 10 losses, and 1 draw.

00:19:31He has 18 wins, coming by way of knockout.

00:19:34He is currently ranked the IBF number 9 contender.

00:19:38Please welcome the former IBF flyweight champion of the world, Rodolfo Blanco!

00:19:46And his opponent across the ring is the defending champion, fighting out of the red corner, really needing no introduction to you.

00:20:00He stands here in Albuquerque, wearing black trunks, with gold trim.

00:20:09Ladies and gentlemen, he weighed in the same as his opponent, 115 pounds.

00:20:14He is fighting out of and representing his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico!

00:20:20And he joins us in the ring, undefeated in his campaign, in the ring with 42 wins, no losses, two draws with 24 wins, coming by way of knockout.

00:20:36Tonight, he celebrates his birthday by defending his title for the 13th time.

00:20:43Here is the undefeated IBF and WBO junior Bantamweight champion of the world.

00:20:51Introducing the baby face assassin, here is Johnny Papier!

00:21:06Okay, gentlemen, I went over the rules in your dressing room, the championship fight, and I expect you to die too.

00:21:19Uphold that.

00:21:20Do you understand me?

00:21:22Do you have any questions from this camp?

00:21:24Do you have any questions from this camp?

00:21:26The body shot is right below the nagel.

00:21:29You need to bring the trunks down, okay?

00:21:30Do you understand that?

00:21:32Selected both of you.

00:21:33Let's get it!

00:21:33Johnny Tapia said that Blanco is tough, he's experienced, but he's concerned that he'll try to hit him low.

00:21:43He said he's dirty.

00:21:44He said if that happens, he has something for Blanco.

00:21:46Tapia fights on instinct, the way he lives his life.

00:21:49No game plan.

00:21:51Meanwhile, Rodolfo Blanco said he plans to come right at Johnny Tapia.

00:21:56That could be a mistake.

00:21:58This is for the IVF and WBO Junior Bantamweight Championship, scheduled for 12.

00:22:07The third man of the ring, Tony Rosales.

00:22:10Here we go.

00:22:13Tapia told us he's genuinely excited to return to his roots, but he must control his emotions.

00:22:18You know, he couldn't be more thrilled and emotional at the time we were asking him, and it almost got the better of him.

00:22:23He says in terms of strategy, he never goes in looking for the knockout.

00:22:28He hears that Blanco intends to come right at him.

00:22:31And he did call Blanco a very dirty fighter, but tough, skillful, inexperienced.

00:22:39He hits hard, and he has to watch the Blanco's right.

00:22:42Even though they're pretty much the exact same height, Steve, the speed factor that Tapia has is going to force Blanco to have to get inside, get low, and rush Tapia up on the inside, go to the body.

00:22:52Blanco confident but polite.

00:22:54His big punch is a left hook.

00:22:55He said he'll go all out versus Tapia.

00:22:57That's the way he always fights.

00:22:59He won't change anything tonight.

00:23:00He says he can beat Tapia by applying pressure.

00:23:05Blanco does have a good chin.

00:23:06He's been stopped only two times in 40 fights.

00:23:09He is a former world flyweight chin.

00:23:12But, as we pointed out earlier, Bernie, he's lost four of his last six.

00:23:17That doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

00:23:20Except in Down and Tapia's.

00:23:23On Down and Tapia's front, he's got me Vida Loca written, which is my crazy life.

00:23:28And boy, he's here just now.

00:23:30And he comes on strong here.

00:23:31Johnny Tapia's speed is just too much for Blanco, Steve.

00:23:34Blanco cannot adjust his speed.

00:23:36Tapia's thrown two and three before he's even seen the first one.

00:23:38There comes the stuff we're talking about.

00:23:48Here comes the negative stuff we're talking about.

00:23:50And look at the left eye of Johnny Tapia blood.

00:23:52Watch the head.

00:23:53Now he was getting him with an elbow.

00:23:55Tapia just hit him with an elbow after he wiped the blood onto his glove and then licked it.

00:23:59Well, he's getting dirty here in the first round is predicted by Tapia.

00:24:04Watch out!

00:24:05Now he's...

00:24:05Now Johnny's going crazy.

00:24:08You see that?

00:24:08That's exactly what we talked about.

00:24:10That's the negative way that the other guy can win.

00:24:13The Blanco can win.

00:24:14Yeah, Tapia told us the key to this fight is for him to keep his cool and Blanco trying to get Tapia out of it.

00:24:21I'm sure the referee's going to say it was an accidental headbutt and go to the cards.

00:24:24If that need be, Tapia cannot get himself disqualified by retribution out of hand.

00:24:28Is this pre-conceived strategy by Blanco or just a...

00:24:33I don't think that was a...

00:24:34That was a...

00:24:35That was on purpose.

00:24:37Here comes Tapia trying to end it early.

00:24:4030 seconds to go in the round one.

00:24:44Tapia is upset and he's landing at will.

00:24:47Fighting with a sense of urgency here.

00:24:49The accidental headbutt occurred a minute 30 in the round one.

00:24:53We'll take a look closely at it between rounds.

00:24:56There's a crowd chance in unison for Tapia.

00:25:01Wicked left hook there by Johnny Tapia.

00:25:05Trapping up on the left hooks to the body.

00:25:06Tapia throwing everything he's got in every punch.

00:25:09He's not out of control.

00:25:11He's close to out of control.

00:25:12Look at that.

00:25:12Uh-oh.

00:25:14He's lucky he didn't take a punch at me.

00:25:19Now we'll have to see on replay.

00:25:21Let's have to see on replay whether that was accidental or on purpose.

00:25:24No, let Jake do his work.

00:25:26Nice.

00:25:27This is out of control stuff.

00:25:28Let Jake do his work.

00:25:32His wife is right there trying to calm him down.

00:25:35You gotta leave that cuddle home.

00:25:36Jake Diaz.

00:25:37Let's watch.

00:25:38Watch the head of Blanco now.

00:25:39Watch Blanco's head.

00:25:41Watch Tapia.

00:25:43Boy, that's barely there.

00:25:44He just, you know what it is?

00:25:45He just caught him right in the corner of the eye bone.

00:25:48And as we look from the overhead, he just came in and bam.

00:25:51It wasn't on purpose.

00:25:52But it was, it was a clean hit right there.

00:25:54Okay.

00:25:55Lots of jabs on your toes.

00:25:58Single and double jab.

00:25:59Setting up from the outside.

00:26:01He's got to stay ahead in case they stop this.

00:26:04He's got to stay ahead of this fight.

00:26:10Blanco looking to make Tapia lose his cool.

00:26:14Well, that was his purpose.

00:26:16He certainly achieved it.

00:26:17Round two.

00:26:19You gotta wonder if the referee made mention of that accidental headbutt to the judges.

00:26:23Very, very important.

00:26:24Stop, stop, stop.

00:26:25Break, break.

00:26:26Come on, guys.

00:26:26Come on.

00:26:27Come on.

00:26:27Break free.

00:26:28Tapia hitting on the break.

00:26:29Tapia forgets about boxing.

00:26:34He gets into fights.

00:26:36I mean, the street violence of his just takes over.

00:26:41You know, he clearly likes to fight.

00:26:42You can see it in his eyes.

00:26:43You can see it in his attitude.

00:26:44And he can fight.

00:26:45Here, you want to make sure, though, if you're Tapia, to not let the emotions get the better

00:26:49of you.

00:26:49Not throw punches that you don't need to be throwing.

00:26:52Shoot your energy load early.

00:26:54He showed he could box and punch in the Danny Romero fight last July.

00:26:59And he fought a very smart, disciplined, tactical fight that night.

00:27:03Counterpunched well.

00:27:04And he did contain his emotions.

00:27:06I'll tell you who's fought well right now.

00:27:09Blanco has not been impressed at all by all of that hollering and elbowing and everything.

00:27:13He has got this cool of boxing.

00:27:16So he's, uh...

00:27:17He says he always fights in the champion's hometown, so this is nothing new to him.

00:27:22He's coming in behind a very robotic-type jab.

00:27:25Throwing a jab well.

00:27:26No real combinations from Blanco.

00:27:28And nothing seems to have bad intentions on him.

00:27:29He's a seasoned veteran.

00:27:31Bores in.

00:27:32Aggressive.

00:27:32Nothing fancy.

00:27:33He just stands in there and belts away.

00:27:35Not much for this.

00:27:39The effort's now from Tapia.

00:27:45Watch out, guys.

00:27:46Watch out.

00:27:47Trying to get a close-in look at the eye.

00:27:49He's rubbing off the blood that's trickling into the eye.

00:27:53Tapia is.

00:27:54So that's got to be bothering him.

00:27:57And that's not good news.

00:27:58We're just starting this night.

00:28:00That is a bloody mess on the left side of Tapia's face.

00:28:04It's in a bad spot.

00:28:05After the build-up of Grishendo in this fight, that would be so anticlimactic, it would be hard.

00:28:09And it would be a tough thing to stop this fight in this arena.

00:28:14If the fight is stopped by an accidental headbutt before the end of the fourth round,

00:28:18that's where we are now.

00:28:19The fighters rule a technical throw.

00:28:21After the end of the fourth round, they go to the scorecard.

00:28:23They saw Tapia's hooks of South Pole briefly.

00:28:25Didn't throw any punches.

00:28:26But he likes to confuse people.

00:28:28Comes from odd angles.

00:28:29Very quick, great reflexes.

00:28:34Straight right hand by Tapia in front of him.

00:28:38Now he goes back to the jab.

00:28:41Beautiful jab by Tapia.

00:28:48You know, your eyes are on Tapia every time he fights.

00:28:52He's so spectacular.

00:28:54De Niro is taking his left hook to the body.

00:28:55Comes up at the top of the hook, and he's in the knee.

00:28:58He digs it.

00:28:59He loves the work.

00:29:00A spiraling right uppercut by Johnny Tappy.

00:29:03We mentioned Danny Romero.

00:29:21Let's go to Jim Bray with Danny.

00:29:22All right, thank you very much, Steve.

00:29:25Well, it was a bitterly contested fight.

00:29:27They're bitter rivals.

00:29:28Yet, Danny Romero, you right now are screaming and hollering encouragement to Johnny Tapia,

00:29:32and he turned around and screamed something back to you.

00:29:34What did he say, and why are you so for him now?

00:29:36Hey, you know, it has never been, I think they made it out worse than what it was.

00:29:40Johnny's my boy, and you know, he's just a little anxious right now.

00:29:44He has to relax.

00:29:45What did he say to you?

00:29:47He said, what's up, Danny?

00:29:49You're in the middle of the fight?

00:29:50In the middle of the fight.

00:29:51Hey, that's Johnny, you know.

00:29:53Let me ask you, Danny, are you made before him now because you want a rematch very badly,

00:29:57and if he loses, of course, that wouldn't eventuate?

00:29:59That's the situation, but I'm a boxing fan.

00:30:01He's from my hometown.

00:30:02I cheer for him.

00:30:03I'm a boxing fan, you know, as it is.

00:30:05So this is a good thing.

00:30:07All right, thank you, Danny.

00:30:07We appreciate it.

00:30:08All right.

00:30:08Back to you, Steve.

00:30:10Jim, last week, Romero's attorney sent a letter to IBF president Bob Lee requesting a rematch,

00:30:16and Tapia said, well, okay, but Romero has to earn it first.

00:30:22Here we go into round three.

00:30:25We'll keep a close watch again on the cutter on the left eye of Johnny Tapia.

00:30:30Notice this round, Blanco's coming out with a little more force, a little faster,

00:30:33looking to press the issue a little more.

00:30:35Not necessarily with punches, but with body pressure.

00:30:38I'll say one thing.

00:30:43He has certainly not scared Blanco.

00:30:45Blanco's kept to his game plan.

00:30:46He's lost two rounds, but he's been representative in each one,

00:30:52and he's staying right in front of him, and he's boxing his match.

00:30:55Ooh, nice right hand.

00:30:56Straight right by Blanco.

00:30:58He hit Tapia with a good right hand.

00:31:01He got Tapia who looks at.

00:31:03And that gets the crowd going behind Tapia.

00:31:06Tapia pressing the attack.

00:31:07Kicking body shots by Johnny Tapia.

00:31:12Oh, is Tapia an exciting fighter?

00:31:15He is exciting.

00:31:16That's Hollywood kind of fighting.

00:31:18Watch out, fighters.

00:31:19Watch out, fighters.

00:31:20Watch out, fighters.

00:31:23Tapia in the southpaw stance right now,

00:31:26throwing right hooks to the body as opposed to the left.

00:31:28You know he's got to switch him back to right hand.

00:31:31Combination by Tapia.

00:31:32The right hand landed.

00:31:36Well, that body shot on the left of the ribs,

00:31:38backed up the challenger 45 seconds into round three.

00:31:42Weeping left hook by Tapia Blanco getting away from those.

00:31:45Blanco has a good left hook.

00:31:51Keep a watch out for that.

00:31:52So far, his right hand's been his best punch that he's landed tonight.

00:31:57On the old Hollywood movies,

00:31:58Bobby and Solo's Don Garfield would be the guy you would see playing him.

00:32:02Maybe even Jimmy Cagney.

00:32:04Cagney did a couple of boxing movies.

00:32:05Feisty, tough, combative.

00:32:08That's the end.

00:32:08Trying to get a movie about his life as we speak.

00:32:13Well, he's got something else right now on his mind.

00:32:16How far can he go before they're going to call his fight?

00:32:19That eye looks worse and worse.

00:32:22That eye is streaming blood.

00:32:24That streaming blood is not too much in the eye right now.

00:32:26A little bit down the side, but I don't like it.

00:32:27Let me say this.

00:32:28Let me say this.

00:32:29If they stop the fight on a cut from an accidental headbutt,

00:32:31I think you'll be under the table.

00:32:34I got first dibs for the ring.

00:32:35I'm going to be under Bobby.

00:32:40They're going to have to think long and hard before they make that decision.

00:32:43Well, after four, it'll be his way out.

00:32:45He wins every round after four and then he goes out.

00:32:49I mean, as long as he keeps rubbing it and making it look like it bothers him,

00:32:52then the doctor has to come in and look at it.

00:32:55I mean, you can't ignore that the boxer's doing that.

00:33:01There's a bit like a cut or shot by a champion.

00:33:06Tappy did a little rock and roll.

00:33:07We talked about fired, rocked back out, fired back in,

00:33:10keeping an excellent distance.

00:33:11Here's a damn.

00:33:12You've got to help me, then, Johnny.

00:33:25Jake needs some help.

00:33:27Jake needs some help.

00:33:29And where you're going to give him the help

00:33:30is by staying on the outside

00:33:32and using your jab more effectively.

00:33:36What we're doing is you're throwing a jab flat-footed.

00:33:39You're standing straight up for me.

00:33:40I can't help that, okay?

00:33:41Let's go.

00:33:43Okay, camina con la derecha al pie.

00:33:46Camina parrilla de la mano tuya derecha.

00:33:48He wants him to walk forward.

00:33:49He's got to work.

00:33:51Work right on the eye.

00:33:53Work on the eye.

00:33:55Not one puts several punches at the same time.

00:34:03They're telling him if they get that eye open more,

00:34:05they stop it and he's the champion of the world.

00:34:07Oh, boy, if they got their information wrong.

00:34:09Come on now.

00:34:10Well, it goes to show you,

00:34:11corners don't always tell you the truth.

00:34:13Or know the truth.

00:34:16As the blood continues to flow from Tapia's eye,

00:34:20the MVP in that Tapia corner,

00:34:22tonight could be Jacob Diaz, the cut man.

00:34:25Well, let's see if Tapia takes the recommendation,

00:34:27stay outside.

00:34:28The help that Jesus cut man has for.

00:34:30Stay outside.

00:34:30Give him a break.

00:34:31Give you a break.

00:34:31Round four for the IBS WBO Junior Bantamweight Championship.

00:34:39Owned by Johnny Tapia,

00:34:41the local hero from right here in Albuquerque.

00:34:43See, as soon as that big looping right hand,

00:34:44if Blanco's hit Tapia,

00:34:45he wanted to get in there and pay back.

00:34:46And I understand it,

00:34:47but sometimes you've got to use your mind over your emotions.

00:34:50Especially when you're cutting,

00:34:51that guy's going to be bombing that right hand

00:34:53right to that corner.

00:34:54That's what they call him in the corner.

00:34:55Go with that right hand right to the eye.

00:34:57Hey, they want that eye.

00:34:58Oops.

00:34:59Hey, this is the best sport.

00:35:02Gentlemen, me?

00:35:03I've got to write that one down.

00:35:05Tapia, 12-0-1 with six knockouts

00:35:08in Wuerl-Connor's rights.

00:35:10Some beautiful defense we just saw right here.

00:35:12Tapia slipped on the road,

00:35:13stepped around,

00:35:14and Blanco couldn't find him.

00:35:16Dranco wanted three in Wuerl-Connor's rights.

00:35:19Tapia pushing Blanco back to the road

00:35:21for the straight line.

00:35:22Don't use your head.

00:35:23Crank out.

00:35:24Anytime Tapia even comes close to landing,

00:35:27this crowd will go crazy.

00:35:30Better than 13,000 on hand.

00:35:32Watch the head,

00:35:33says referee Tony Rosales.

00:35:35It was an accidental headbutt

00:35:37in the first round

00:35:38that did damage

00:35:39around the left eye of Tapia.

00:35:41He hadn't gotten in too much this time.

00:35:43He's not streaking like it was.

00:35:45There's two rivers going down,

00:35:47but it's not like that flood

00:35:48that we saw in the last two or three rounds.

00:35:49It's a little swollen, though.

00:35:50It's starting to swell up a little bit

00:35:52and get a little more ugly

00:35:53even the blood aside.

00:35:55Tapia said before the fight,

00:35:56if I don't get my face damaged

00:35:58in some form

00:36:00in this fight,

00:36:01it means I didn't do my job.

00:36:03He's got that part of the night

00:36:05taken care of.

00:36:07He's going to be a mess.

00:36:09Oh, nice.

00:36:10Again, he stepped,

00:36:11switched his feet

00:36:13through a right hook

00:36:13from the southpaw stance.

00:36:14How about that?

00:36:15He acknowledges somebody

00:36:16from the crowd

00:36:17in the middle of everything.

00:36:18That's Johnny Tapia.

00:36:19He consummates show him

00:36:21ahead of all times.

00:36:22He has confidence

00:36:28despite the fact

00:36:29that blood is streaking down

00:36:31the left cheek.

00:36:32Well, he's winning every round.

00:36:33Surely he should be confident.

00:36:35And if that was ruled

00:36:36an accidental headbutt,

00:36:37there's no way

00:36:37he can lose by decision

00:36:38as of now.

00:36:39After the end

00:36:44of round four

00:36:45on the headbutt rule,

00:36:47they go to the scorecard.

00:36:59Almost a little blow

00:37:00and there's the answer

00:37:01by Tappy.

00:37:02He said,

00:37:02you do it,

00:37:03I'll do it back.

00:37:04And he did it.

00:37:04He didn't hesitate.

00:37:05I like that.

00:37:06Sounds odd,

00:37:08but I like that.

00:37:09And here comes Tapia.

00:37:21And let's go

00:37:22inside the ropes

00:37:23with Bobby Chips.

00:37:27Johnny Tapia

00:37:27likes to do

00:37:28that inside out.

00:37:29He's got such great

00:37:30speed reflexes.

00:37:31Here you watch him.

00:37:32He'll stuff the left hook.

00:37:33Jab.

00:37:34Quick combination.

00:37:35Step in,

00:37:35step outside.

00:37:37Just keeping

00:37:37Blanco on the end

00:37:39of his punches.

00:37:41Here again,

00:37:41he's rocking

00:37:41with the right hand.

00:37:42Goes to the body

00:37:42over the top.

00:37:44Awkward angles

00:37:44making Blanco miss

00:37:46and making Blanco pay.

00:37:47I love Wintos.

00:37:48And look,

00:37:48and nothing's

00:37:49coming behind it.

00:37:52Combinations.

00:37:53Combinations.

00:37:54Off of the jab.

00:37:56Combinations up here.

00:37:57Give me movement

00:37:58and aim.

00:37:58Let's take a look

00:37:59at that low blow.

00:37:59These low blows

00:38:00are really unintentional

00:38:01on the part of both fighters,

00:38:02but both fighters

00:38:03don't take any nonsense

00:38:04from each other.

00:38:04They come right back.

00:38:05There's the low one.

00:38:06Tapia just comes right back

00:38:08with it.

00:38:08Oh, here's one for you.

00:38:10I like Bobby's statement

00:38:11and I like that's the way

00:38:12we always set the corner.

00:38:13You take matters

00:38:14in your own hands.

00:38:15He answers.

00:38:15Anyway.

00:38:17Tapia told us

00:38:18yesterday

00:38:19that's exactly the way

00:38:20he would handle

00:38:20the situation.

00:38:21He did.

00:38:22round five.

00:38:23It's nice to know

00:38:25he's a man of his work.

00:38:25Yeah, it's honest.

00:38:28Johnny Tapia

00:38:29putting on a show

00:38:30in front of

00:38:32his hometown fans.

00:38:35He's 12-0 here

00:38:37in Albuquerque.

00:38:38You notice

00:38:43even when Tapia

00:38:44gets his man

00:38:45in a compromising position

00:38:46he doesn't negate the body.

00:38:47He takes that left hook

00:38:48and digs it up underneath

00:38:49and rips an upper cut

00:38:50of right hand down there.

00:38:51Tapia

00:38:52with a boxing clinic here.

00:38:54And he acknowledges the crowd

00:38:56in the midst of an arm.

00:38:57Blanco showing good chin here

00:39:03but the big factor here

00:39:04is the speed

00:39:05not just the reach

00:39:05but the speed.

00:39:07Johnny's in, he's out.

00:39:07He's where he wants to be

00:39:08countering almost that road.

00:39:10Blanco trains in Miami.

00:39:12His family,

00:39:13his wife and four children

00:39:14live in Bolanquia, Colombia.

00:39:16He wants to bring them

00:39:17back to Miami

00:39:18should he win

00:39:19these titles here tonight.

00:39:20But he is a 30-1 underdog.

00:39:26That's a tough jab

00:39:27by Tapia

00:39:28that is more than

00:39:28a probing jab.

00:39:30Very effective.

00:39:31Like that.

00:39:33Shot down.

00:39:35Tapia seems to settle down

00:39:36back in control

00:39:37running the box.

00:39:38I can't even tell you guys

00:39:41in my own words

00:39:42how beautiful that is.

00:39:43Sweet.

00:39:44And how hard

00:39:45you throw it by the way.

00:39:46Come over here.

00:39:52Combination to the head

00:39:53by Tapia

00:39:54who is having his way.

00:39:55Now he's blocking

00:39:58from the outside smart.

00:39:59Slipping shots.

00:40:00Using his range

00:40:01he's got the reach.

00:40:02Two and a half inches

00:40:03on each arm

00:40:03and the speed.

00:40:04Smart plays from the big.

00:40:06Bobby and Bernie

00:40:06he's got an underrated defense.

00:40:08He really knows

00:40:08how to deflect punches

00:40:09with everything.

00:40:10His wrist,

00:40:11his elbows,

00:40:12his forearm,

00:40:13his head.

00:40:13Coupled with his reflexes

00:40:14which are pretty good

00:40:15and he slips them up a lot.

00:40:16And he has pretty good footwork too.

00:40:21Look at that.

00:40:23He's got that twisting motion

00:40:24to elude punches.

00:40:28He's quite a package.

00:40:32Johnny Tapia.

00:40:32Meanwhile,

00:40:35Blanco is still doing

00:40:36his one-one-like foul.

00:40:38He's still standing in front of him.

00:40:39Not caught at all.

00:40:40And he's hit punches.

00:40:41Not enough to win rounds

00:40:42but he's fighting.

00:40:43And the chance of Johnny

00:40:45from the crowd.

00:40:46They handed out

00:40:476,000 signs

00:40:48in the seats

00:40:48that said Johnny.

00:40:51Nice double look

00:40:52looked at the body.

00:40:54And here's Tapia

00:40:55with right hand.

00:40:56You see he fouls it up.

00:40:57Something that

00:40:57he earlier didn't do.

00:40:59Tapia fouls up

00:41:00with those big one-two shots.

00:41:03It seems like

00:41:03the worst thing

00:41:04you can do

00:41:04is hit him hard

00:41:05because then it spurs off

00:41:06a three, four, five

00:41:07punch combination fight.

00:41:13Tapia game

00:41:13switching briefly

00:41:14to southpaw.

00:41:15You can't stand straight up

00:41:33in front of this guy.

00:41:35You gotta jab.

00:41:36You can't stand straight.

00:41:37You gotta bend over with it.

00:41:39Change, exchange with him.

00:41:45Don't just sit there

00:41:46and get punched.

00:41:47Exchange with him.

00:41:48You watch Tapia's body attack.

00:41:54A nice look on it.

00:41:55A little bit low

00:41:55but he got it

00:41:56right under there.

00:41:57You know,

00:41:58he just doesn't stop

00:41:59punching the body

00:42:00again and again low.

00:42:01That's two lows.

00:42:03I mean, you know,

00:42:03the trucks are a little bit high

00:42:05but still,

00:42:05that's two low blows

00:42:06and the low.

00:42:06In the rules meeting

00:42:08the other day,

00:42:10they went over that

00:42:11very meticulously

00:42:13about high trunks,

00:42:14how high the trunks would go

00:42:16and apparently that is

00:42:17the case

00:42:18and the referee

00:42:18is letting it go.

00:42:20Well, this is an example

00:42:21of a champion fighting

00:42:22successfully moving

00:42:24backward at times.

00:42:25He's using his speed

00:42:26to confound the challenger.

00:42:28Johnny Tapia

00:42:28has been around six.

00:42:30Plus, Ferdy could tell you

00:42:31how many other years

00:42:32to go backwards

00:42:32and beat you to death

00:42:33on the way in.

00:42:33Sugar Ray Robinson

00:42:34another one perfect.

00:42:35Oh, I'll tell you what,

00:42:37all our kudos

00:42:38to the corner man.

00:42:39They're really taking care

00:42:40of this cut very well.

00:42:41It's slowly stemming

00:42:42the flow of the blood

00:42:43whereas it was flowing

00:42:45in round one and two.

00:42:46Now it's nice.

00:42:47And to his credit,

00:42:47Johnny Tapia

00:42:48has helped him out.

00:42:49His box is moving outside.

00:42:50He's not sat in the middle

00:42:51of a slow pitch

00:42:52where he didn't need to

00:42:53and that's how

00:42:54the cut took to him.

00:42:59Again, credit to

00:43:00Jacob Diaz,

00:43:02the cut man

00:43:02for Johnny Tapia.

00:43:03Well, this is the kind

00:43:07of fight he was hoping

00:43:08he could get

00:43:08for a birthday present.

00:43:09He's got 13,000

00:43:10adoring fans

00:43:11and he's going

00:43:11all his way.

00:43:13So he is,

00:43:14even though this guy

00:43:15is still in front of him,

00:43:16still doing his damage

00:43:17to see that that cut

00:43:18opens up still.

00:43:20It's a good fight

00:43:21for Johnny Tapia.

00:43:22If Tapia wins,

00:43:23he told us,

00:43:23it's time not to unify

00:43:25but to move up.

00:43:26The bigger names

00:43:27like Kennedy McKinney,

00:43:28Jr. Jones

00:43:29are at 122.

00:43:30That's a seven-pound jump.

00:43:31Now at this weight,

00:43:33seven pounds

00:43:34is not as small

00:43:34as it might seem.

00:43:36Tapia told us

00:43:37after he eats,

00:43:38he's 130.

00:43:40Perhaps a slight

00:43:41exaggeration.

00:43:42It's possible

00:43:43but I've seen

00:43:43some guys

00:43:44that John McCrown

00:43:44come in,

00:43:45160,

00:43:46weigh 178 pounds

00:43:47fight game.

00:43:48Well,

00:43:48126

00:43:49which houses

00:43:50Prince Nassim

00:43:51come in.

00:43:52Wilfredo Vasquez,

00:43:53how about those

00:43:53rights by Tapia?

00:43:54Luis Espinoza,

00:43:55that might be a stretch.

00:43:57Yeah,

00:43:57and a painful stretch

00:43:59if he invites

00:43:59the Prince,

00:44:00but we will see.

00:44:03I really,

00:44:03I really pay good

00:44:04money

00:44:05to see that fight.

00:44:06You know,

00:44:06one thing is

00:44:07if you get older,

00:44:08you get heavier,

00:44:08so let's go back

00:44:09to the fight.

00:44:10We approach

00:44:11the final minute

00:44:12of round six.

00:44:15Tapia,

00:44:15boxing is smart,

00:44:16doing what he's

00:44:17supposed to do,

00:44:17not opening himself

00:44:18up to anything stupid,

00:44:19winning the round,

00:44:20and clearly

00:44:21knees him.

00:44:35Right uppercut

00:44:36by Johnny Tapia.

00:44:39Lago continues

00:44:41to miss.

00:44:42What a flurry

00:44:47by Tapia.

00:44:48You know,

00:44:48it's the speed

00:44:49here,

00:44:49he was all speed

00:44:50and accuracy.

00:44:51Blanco couldn't do

00:44:51anything with it.

00:44:56Come on, guys.

00:44:57Come on, please.

00:44:57Stay quiet.

00:44:58Stay quiet.

00:45:01Johnny Tapia

00:45:02in complete command.

00:45:04Blocking those

00:45:05right hands

00:45:06by Blanco.

00:45:12For every punch

00:45:13that Blanco

00:45:14dishes out,

00:45:15Tapia answers

00:45:15back with three

00:45:16or four.

00:45:17Three or four.

00:45:23The crowd

00:45:23literally

00:45:25and figuratively

00:45:26in the corner

00:45:27of Johnny Tapia.

00:45:28Obviously,

00:45:28Tapia a serious

00:45:30fan of tattoos,

00:45:31most of them

00:45:32taking a spiritual

00:45:33and personal

00:45:33meeting.

00:45:34Johnny elaborates.

00:45:35I have a total

00:45:37of four tattoos.

00:45:38The one in the

00:45:39front is a

00:45:40sacred heart

00:45:40to take care

00:45:41of me

00:45:41in the front

00:45:41of me.

00:45:42The one in the

00:45:43back is a

00:45:44Virgin Mary

00:45:44to take care

00:45:45of my back.

00:45:46The one on my

00:45:47right is with

00:45:48my wife

00:45:48taking care of

00:45:50me here in this

00:45:51world.

00:45:52And also,

00:45:52the one on my

00:45:53left is with

00:45:54my mom to take

00:45:55care of me

00:45:55upstairs.

00:45:56That's in heaven.

00:45:57Can I say

00:45:58something?

00:45:59I have a machine

00:45:59at home if you

00:46:00guys want to try

00:46:00it, you know?

00:46:02Make no difference

00:46:03to me.

00:46:03Hey, I'll help

00:46:04you guys out.

00:46:05Nah, I'm just

00:46:06kidding.

00:46:08That's too bad.

00:46:09I know Ferdy was

00:46:09planning on going

00:46:10over to Johnny's

00:46:11house tomorrow.

00:46:12I'm a colorist.

00:46:12I can do a whole

00:46:13mural on myself.

00:46:14Listen, if he has

00:46:14a little color,

00:46:15I'll take a shot

00:46:15with him, but I

00:46:16don't want my own

00:46:16black and white.

00:46:18All right.

00:46:20Halfway through,

00:46:21Johnny Tapia

00:46:22could be up by

00:46:23as many as

00:46:24six points.

00:46:25I have a shutout,

00:46:26Steve.

00:46:26Clearly, I do.

00:46:27I do.

00:46:27I can't see where

00:46:28you can squeeze

00:46:29the point out.

00:46:31The champion

00:46:32continues to

00:46:33control the pace.

00:46:37And he is just

00:46:38out-quicking the

00:46:39challenge here,

00:46:40Blanco.

00:46:51Nice right-hand

00:46:52counter by Blanco.

00:46:53A couple of

00:46:53cuts on the

00:46:54inside, connected.

00:46:55nothing real

00:46:56serious, and

00:46:56Johnny comes back

00:46:57and does what he

00:46:57does.

00:47:04Blanco looking to

00:47:05press the attack

00:47:06now and push

00:47:07Tapia back, but

00:47:09that doesn't seem

00:47:10to have any

00:47:10effect, even

00:47:12when Tapia is

00:47:14in retreat.

00:47:14can't say enough

00:47:18about how good a job

00:47:19they've done on Tapia's

00:47:21cut.

00:47:21That might have been

00:47:21the best punch of the

00:47:22night for Blanco,

00:47:23but it didn't have much

00:47:24effect.

00:47:25Good looping right

00:47:25and it opened the cut

00:47:26right up, swelled up

00:47:27Johnny's eye just a little

00:47:29bit more.

00:47:29A little bit.

00:47:30That was the only

00:47:30effect of that punch

00:47:31was that he did land on

00:47:32the cut, and it's

00:47:33starting to flow again.

00:47:35That was the effect of

00:47:35that punch.

00:47:37Johnny got sloppy

00:47:38there and paid for it.

00:47:43Tapia looking to get

00:47:44back to his focus,

00:47:46his concentration.

00:47:49Digging shots to the

00:47:51body.

00:47:51He missed with that

00:47:52whirling left hook to

00:47:53taping.

00:48:03Lunching right.

00:48:04There was a branching

00:48:05ball by Temple.

00:48:06What he did there was

00:48:07in midair, actually

00:48:08switched his feet to

00:48:09Zalcoy and swing a

00:48:10wicked right hook that

00:48:12just hit nothing but

00:48:12air.

00:48:18Tapia with his hands

00:48:19down low, taking a

00:48:20quick breather.

00:48:25Crowd exhorting him.

00:48:27So far with a minute to

00:48:28go, it's Blanco's best

00:48:29round.

00:48:32As we say, Blanco's

00:48:33only to come.

00:48:37Blanco down only once in

00:48:46his career against Ireland's

00:48:48Dave McCauley.

00:48:50He stopped twice in 40

00:48:51fights.

00:48:52Tapia down only once in

00:48:54his second pro fight against

00:48:55the fighter by the name of

00:48:57James Dean.

00:49:06Right up, because on the inside

00:49:07he's found very effective for

00:49:09Blanco.

00:49:10A round which I think he might

00:49:11have squeaked out.

00:49:13Final seconds of round seven.

00:49:15There's a straight line hand

00:49:16that connected by Tapia.

00:49:18Storm finished by Tapia.

00:49:19Tapia.

00:49:35I'm going to fight.

00:49:41I was watching a closed

00:49:42dialogue that goes between the

00:49:43two fighters as they finish

00:49:45Finish the round

00:49:47Now this is the end of round six nice little right hand and nice uppercut now watch black hole when he gets hit on two three

00:49:56It's feet

00:49:59Nothing nothing that was that the best you got

00:50:03But not all of you connected Ferdy and now we're really hard, but there were point getters and he won

00:50:16Tuto Zabala jr. Tryna her job and picks him up

00:50:21Blanco has already seen a questionable decision go toward the champion in our first fight

00:50:26He has to know he can't win a decision against Johnny Tapia not here in Tapia's hometown

00:50:32Not tonight in Tapia's on Tapia's birthday and not the way he's been fighting thus far

00:50:39Yeah, I'd be willing to bet big money against

00:50:45Oh

00:50:48Round eight

00:50:55Given the

00:50:57Knockout records of both fighters this figured to be a night. I'm gonna go a long way. I mean the cut was the only thing that added

00:51:05Connected a straight right by Johnny Tappy to the the cheek nice double and triple jab to set up that right hand found the range

00:51:12That one goes inside it up in his face right hand lens right anymore

00:51:18Think how dangerous Tapia would be if he had a big knockout punch

00:51:24Yes, you really like the prince the prince boxes and does all kind of crazy things but can knock out

00:51:29Oh

00:51:34Tappy of 42-0 and 2 with 24 knockouts

00:51:39Blanco 29 10-1 with 18 ko's he's won two in a row but lost four of his last six he retired in 93 94 95

00:51:48and then he realized he was running out of money he had to come back

00:51:55he's had only five fights since 1995 he has not been that active he's not

00:52:01having a bad round here but a lot of that's probably contributable to the

00:52:03fact that Johnny Taffy's hanging his head out there and playing a little bit

00:52:06something that he shouldn't really be doing but that's part of what psychs him

00:52:11up that gets his adrenaline going

00:52:18under a minute remaining in round eight

00:52:24but did you ever meet anybody like Johnny champion we know I haven't been in the

00:52:29gym for so many years you need a lot of characters fight like characters

00:52:35like Johnny Taffy using everything in the arsenal there including his elbow

00:52:41I was gonna say Steve I think he's snooking a couple of right elbows

00:52:43not necessary either might I add he's so far

00:52:47well perhaps in his mind that goes all the way back to the low blows and the

00:53:03headbutts of blanco earlier

00:53:07you want to watch an elbow keep your

00:53:13keep your eyes on the right elbow

00:53:17now you see that one that was it that was the right elbow

00:53:21it doesn't seem like you're smart it looks like you missed a punch but if you're looking at it

00:53:28put it on the way put it on the way

00:53:42baby good job

00:53:46remember get those high drugs going I got you now bro

00:54:01the animated Johnny Taffy talking to everybody in that quarter including his

00:54:17wife Teresa

00:54:19then after the awful corner from time to time

00:54:21hold up Johnny

00:54:22he drops it to the admirable peacefulness of

00:54:25Rudolpho Blanco's corner

00:54:26black one doesn't have a mark on his face

00:54:28and doesn't look like he's worried at all

00:54:31I mean he goes out to work like with his let's fail

00:54:34opens the door and goes in the office

00:54:37well Taffy is showing an assortment of clutches

00:54:40in that last round some legal some not

00:54:43good morning

00:54:44good for there Johnny

00:54:45keep it clean both of you

00:54:54come on

00:54:55keep it clean

00:54:57well evidently Rudolpho jab not once but twice

00:55:02long just to stuff them in there

00:55:03and referee said there'll be no more of that

00:55:05right up the cup there yeah by Blanco

00:55:23here's a left hook that landed by Johnny Taffy punishing shots

00:55:28Johnny a little left shoulder in there too

00:55:32but this Blanco's a tough kid you know he's down by a lot

00:55:36but he hangs in there he's got a good chin and a lot of heart

00:55:39couple of nice effective up cuts on the inside by Blanco he's not quitting at all

00:55:51he's game it doesn't seem like any of this affects him

00:55:57I have not seen any effect on him whatsoever

00:55:59he doesn't slow down he doesn't quit fighting

00:56:01but he's losing definitely no question about that that's effective enough for Johnny I'm sure

00:56:07this keeps coming forward despite the punishment being administered by Taffy

00:56:16Johnny's left eye now getting really swollen

00:56:23seems to have a little purple in there as well

00:56:25the graphic description courtesy of Bobby

00:56:33how about that the way he shielded that right hand by Blanco

00:56:40Johnny Taffy then he comes back with something left to the body

00:56:44beautiful chair by Taffy

00:56:47he really is a terrific boxer he's you know also part showman but he does like

00:56:52what he's doing he sure does he certainly enjoys himself in the ring

00:56:56plays for the crowd after every opportunity

00:57:01Blanco going backwards now not doing much

00:57:08final seconds of round nine

00:57:13a flurry for the body and to the head by Taffy

00:57:17finishes it up with a left elbow

00:57:25let's take a look at the uh what caused the point to be taken away in the Lobo and here it comes let's take a look there's one low blow

00:57:35now let's take a look at the second one he comes in again no I think that was the second one of the series yeah that's the only one there and he did it twice I thought

00:57:52let's take a look there's one low now let's take a look at the second one he comes in again no I think that was the second one of the series yeah that's the only one there and he did it twice I thought

00:58:05let's take out Bobby he ended around Johnny Taffy looking to clean up make a statement

00:58:09works the wind behind a nice double jab in the right hand gets Blanco's attention

00:58:12gets inside and here he's just kind of like

00:58:15I don't know just muscling around a little machismo sort of thing

00:58:19unmarked face of Blanco look at this Tapia

00:58:25reaching over

00:58:26he shake my hand

00:58:28he came over to shake hands with me

00:58:31well let's show me

00:58:32and uh Taffy just got clipped with a wild right hand by Blanco

00:58:37but he put a beautiful count of left hook right behind him

00:58:39yeah he did and he landed very solid

00:58:41you know you can't help but like the kid

00:58:45uh I can see why the talent has warmed up to him

00:58:47he loves to show he loves to fight well when he comes to fight and show

00:58:51he talks about it often he had no love or affection

00:58:54as a kid growing up raised by his grandparents no brothers or sisters his parents were murdered brutally

00:59:00he is literally feeding off the affection of this crowd he really does and he wants to surround himself with love

00:59:06he wants to be liked so much

00:59:10he doesn't

00:59:11that sounds good my recipe good recipe for happy life for me

00:59:15works for me he takes it to that next level

00:59:18you and I can't box with Bobby to go seek the audience's approval

00:59:24a lot of head movement here from Johnny Tapia

00:59:28he just loves people

00:59:33eyes starting to bleed a little more freely again

00:59:36a couple of those right hands

00:59:37although not that clean right on the cut

00:59:40a little underneath uppercut by Blanco

00:59:44every once in a while gets through

00:59:48like that

00:59:58that's the first time I saw his legs buffered

01:00:00first time I've seen his legs buffered

01:00:01solar plexus up top

01:00:03excuse me

01:00:04punch the left hand up top and put that same punch in the solar plexus

01:00:10the crowd loving it

01:00:22can you imagine a tapia romero rematch here in albuquerque the last one was in las vegas as

01:00:28the referee Tony Rosales calls time in the meantime over here

01:00:32johnny tapia playing for the crowd as you see the reason for the stoppage

01:00:39happy to bowing to the fans and says come on make some more

01:00:43well he's insane right now

01:00:47getting in a little calisthenics in the corner while he waits

01:00:50so that's the sense

01:00:52jogging in place now i'll tell you what steve i would just rest in your legs

01:00:56i guess johnny feels like it all night to do that

01:01:00after the fight

01:01:04he comes right back at the challenge

01:01:06in furious fashion

01:01:10okay look this is doing a chance Blanco has

01:01:12and johnny's giving it to him and just doesn't really care steve

01:01:16if Blanco refuses to go down

01:01:24there was a little elbow in there shoulder and then the right hand to follow it up

01:01:28almost like benny briscoe years ago one two three at three arms

01:01:34he hits with the one two didn't hit by you i gotta give Blanco a little credit there guys he stood toe to toe and he went

01:01:38he had him just as hard as he got back so

01:01:42he had a little credit for the heart for that

01:01:44from the crowd

01:01:46to the 13 000 screaming fans for johnny tapia

01:01:48a very high decibel level here

01:01:52look out fighters

01:01:54we're at the

01:01:56look out

01:01:58oh how do you like that

01:02:00and he's doing sportsmanship

01:02:02and johnny

01:02:04johnny hugged him

01:02:06johnny hugged him

01:02:08i go back to the corner and take my rest

01:02:08let me work man

01:02:10need your concentration

01:02:12johnny

01:02:14you need this

01:02:16listen to me

01:02:18you've won every round

01:02:20now we're in the last two rounds

01:02:22a forgery by a man who enjoys what he's doing on his birthday

01:02:26this is his birthday present

01:02:27get in there and punch

01:02:29keep your eye on the other guy

01:02:32because Blanco is coming back with something as well

01:02:35good total action

01:02:36excellent total action like from a movie

01:02:39very good

01:02:40you know here he is being a showman he's sticking his tongue out he's playing

01:02:43he's thriving on the emotion almost the controversy

01:02:46incites a riot within him and he goes over and he hugs the guy and rubs the top of his head

01:02:50uh just a little more than uh

01:02:53i would condone

01:02:54come on buddy

01:02:55i'm sure sylvester stallone didn't choreograph this

01:02:59fight

01:03:00that looks like a hollywood fight all right

01:03:02a good 30 seconds of sustained fast-paced action

01:03:06from these two junior bantamweights at the end of the last round

01:03:12after the clock was stopped to repair Blanco's glove

01:03:15and it ends with a big embrace from Johnny Tapia

01:03:20around the body of Rodolfo Blanco you don't see that very often

01:03:24as the end of round 11. Blanco now boxing from the outside steve

01:03:27something he clearly cannot do against happen

01:03:30well maybe he didn't want anymore that total talks about

01:03:32look how high his trunks are yeah they're up past his belly but almost to his chest

01:03:37that's true i have never seen a pair of trunks that high in anyone

01:03:40all he needs is some suspenders any higher he's going to suffocate

01:03:43it's half a shirt

01:03:47might make you think that some of those body shots are taking your toe

01:03:58he comes back with a tough jab

01:04:00you know tap his corner said you've won every round don't do anything crazy you've got two rounds

01:04:04this box is boxing away you've won every round

01:04:07happy birthday

01:04:12it's my best guess that johnny cap is probably a difficult guy to harness so easy

01:04:18that's why uh his wife teresa says sometimes

01:04:21i love it when he's in the ring he's active he's doing something he's safer there than elsewhere

01:04:26i know

01:04:29i'll tell you he and lamoro is going to be a huge fight here

01:04:33they're not the whole in some place outdoors it's going to be big

01:04:36seats in here

01:04:39i think you're right

01:04:41i would love to see it i'd love to see it

01:04:44so would albacar

01:04:45i think the punch are taking a toll on blanco now he's really offering up a lot less

01:04:50he's getting a little more weary each of the shots he can take bigger

01:04:53to look at these rugged left hooks to the body those look like julio cesar chavez type shots

01:05:04and that by the way is the idol of johnny champion julio cesar chavez

01:05:10who we will see march 7th on svt pay-per-view against miguel and holland

01:05:14right uppercut by tappy just missed

01:05:17now to his credit blanco is pretty much emotionless doesn't show much where i'm there in his face

01:05:25almost robotic keeps coming the same way same speed

01:05:28but really cannot do anything with johnny

01:05:31and he doesn't show the effect of the punches i mean well some people on their faces see that oh

01:05:39you see his legs do one of those longs there

01:05:41the whole year leaves your body at the same time it's a very debilitating

01:05:49a lot of seconds of round 11. come on bye

01:05:53god it makes me nervous to see a boxer stick out his stuff

01:05:59a kiss on the top of the head from tappy

01:06:02well you love the sport don't you know what we're going to see next

01:06:10two and a half minutes of that round

01:06:12well as mentioned in three weeks king visit and sct present a pay-per-view broadcast featuring

01:06:17the legendary mexican julio cesar chavez who faces miguel anhel gonzalez for the vacant wbc

01:06:23super lightweight title also you'll see on the undercard one of the best his name is ricardo lopez

01:06:31el finito the wbc 105 pound champion and he will face wba 105 pound champ rosendo alvarez

01:06:39in a unification bout and also wbc women's lightweight champ christy martin faces danilla

01:06:45summers to catch this exciting championship triple header live on pay-per-view from mexico city on

01:06:51saturday march 7th at 9 p.m eastern 6 p.m pacific

01:06:57here we go the 12th and final round a smiling laughing johnny tapia again talking to folks in

01:07:02the crowd he comes out come on he's the one just about every round 11 rounds of boxing in the books

01:07:10and save for the cut of the book his eye johnny tapia looks as fresh as he did in round one

01:07:24and i think he got exactly what we expected at the top of the show johnny tapia showing everything

01:07:30he's got a nice workman-like job of taking all the punches but with no chance to win by rodolfo black

01:07:38the guy is starting to drip again but not a factor in this fight i'm really glad

01:07:42the guy didn't become a factor we've been very enthusiastic after all we expected and perhaps there's

01:07:46only one thing we haven't seen here tonight we've seen hugging we've seen kissing we haven't seen

01:07:51the trademark backflip yet but we are probably going to see that at the end of the play yeah that's a

01:07:58good point oh yeah nice spiraling uppercut by tapping although with johnny you never know

01:08:09there's a fighter named bias that would do it for you the monomato wonderful little guy

01:08:13former circus clown right yeah you would think that blanco would be a little more desperate

01:08:18knowing he's well behind you just take any shot for a caution to the wind and just wing him in there

01:08:23but clearly that's not the case he's a content to just go the distance finish on the sweep

01:08:29and while it may not exactly show on the outside he's got to be hurt

01:08:34oh you don't hurt tonight oh yeah

01:08:41copy and not running up with a relentless attack here in the final round

01:08:46continuing to administer punishment in the body and face

01:08:51johnny wants to close the show in spectacular fashion he's giving the crowd

01:08:55all they want final minute you know i believe it's not just a crowd i believe he's giving himself what he

01:09:01he drives

01:09:15right here just yelled something to the crowd

01:09:19rip shots by tapio with the left hook

01:09:23and the crescendo from the crowd beginning to build with 30 seconds left in the fight

01:09:31that's just looking here sometimes i don't think blanco could throw him with any real authority

01:09:37happy continues to play to the crown

01:09:40you see that right hand just staying there

01:09:43blanco barely throwing

01:09:45take the final seconds

01:09:51come on johnny

01:09:59well they didn't get a knockout

01:10:10but they got 12 rounds of a boxing clinic from johnny tappy

01:10:13mi vida loca

01:10:19my crazy life

01:10:21well made

01:10:23the difficulty is that that this guy hasn't got anybody in this division he's got to go

01:10:28he's got to fight somebody with an equal name and there's only one guy romero out there for a

01:10:35big fight for him and he's going to step up he's going to start after eating and stepping up because he's going to do it this way he's got to go up again for fan appeal and uh money he's got to go up to 122

01:10:45122 junior featherweight more name recognition names like kennedy mckinney jr jones we mentioned 126 with the prince and vasquez and espinoza but that may be asking a lot especially at the age of 31

01:10:57but there is talk of uh romero too and there he is danny romero as we speak

01:11:05and there's a lot of joy in albuquerque as soon as they make the uh the announcement

01:11:33johnny champion will remain undefeated 10th round action and here we see how

01:11:42tough blanco comes back and how quickly you you see the quickness of tapping he just fires back and then

01:11:49he kisses him on the head round 11 johnny's not letting up at all likes to play

01:11:54he's rubbing him on top of the head he's just a showman he's a playful guy he likes what he's doing

01:11:59he's having a good time yes he is and again playing to the crowd

01:12:08and we're setting for the official decision

01:12:19johnny tapio

01:12:23let's go up to jimmy ladies and gentlemen after 12 rounds of boxing we have a unanimous

01:12:30decision here the score totals judge at ringside william ray scores about 119 to 108 judges harold

01:12:39gomes and william gantz both scores about 120 to 107 all three in favor of the winner and still undefeated

01:12:49and still the idf and wbo junior champion of the world the baby face assassin johnny

01:12:59jimmy champion

01:13:08one of the judges gave him the seventh round as did i

01:13:11just a little more effective johnny took some time off from just playing and having a little

01:13:15good time his 13th successful defense of the wbo junior pantomay title second successful defense of the

01:13:21ibf belt improves to 43 0 and 2 and 13 0 and 1 now in world title fights johnny

01:13:32tapio we're set for post-fight reaction let's go into the ring and jim great jim all right thank

01:13:36you very much steve johnny let me ask you blanco a little tougher than you may have expected bronco

01:13:41is a good champion he's a champion of the world i give him a lot of respect in all the world now

01:13:47we saw just a little bit of everything you were in total control of this fight even kissed him we

01:13:51haven't seen a man kiss another man since isaiah and magic what was going on there i asked my

01:13:55birthday and i wanted black guys i wanted to give him a good thanks and praise and showtime we number

01:13:59one baby don't king's the best in the world did you expect to knock him out no i don't try to knock

01:14:04out nobody i just got to give a lot of thanks and praise to jesus and god i could have did nothing

01:14:09without my wife and also before the morning 20 holding now let me ask you you were talking to

01:14:15romero over there during the fight this was your arch rival this was a guy you had a long time

01:14:20rivalry and battle with last year what were you conversing with him during the fight about

01:14:23daniel rose my friend daniel's a good friend of mine we always been friends since we were small

01:14:28it was just a big thing that we have to get it on and it shows who's the best and uh hey if we're

01:14:34gonna do it again let the promoters handle it not us do you feel as though you're gonna do it again

01:14:38and fight romero again i'll lead up to the best promoter in the world donkey would you like to yeah and

01:14:43then what would you maybe move up here's danny you guys have your arms around each other but there

01:14:48was a lot of rivalry and a major big time you know not hatred but just below that confrontational

01:14:53type of the situation now you guys are arm in arm what's that all about just money he's done good

01:14:58everything's excellent between us hey that's what it is all of us strive for the same thing that's a

01:15:02world title and that's all we do you know if it's against me and him if it's me and somebody else him

01:15:08it's all a good thing it must be valentine's day there's just a lot of love in the air here you know

01:15:12people just don't understand that we're partners we're small actually look at guys a hell of a

01:15:16fighter and then we just grew up in different things went different ways we're back together

01:15:20we're friends and we'll make it bigger than ever and god bless both of us do you think as though

01:15:24you're going to have to move up though to 122 at some point not 22 i'll never go 22 but i'll go 18.

01:15:29but if don king wants me to i'll go 22 or 26. what do you want him to do then i want to be the greatest

01:15:33guy he is and he's going to continue to be we're going to go 118 first and then we're going to go on up to

01:15:3922 whatever to do we're going to do this is the best man in the world this young kid here is a

01:15:43sensation and 13 220 people sell out crowd a too many of them can do that all right we're going to

01:15:49hear from don a little bit more in a moment congratulations to you johnny good to see you

01:15:53danny let's send it back over to steve albert all right thank you very much uh jim gray ferdy uh let's

01:15:58get your your final thoughts well on the on the first fight i was totally uh aghast at the decision

01:16:05um i don't think botawani kept his title on two uh draws and the uh decision going for jones but

01:16:12that's the way boxing is uh i just didn't believe that he won the fight going back and doing as much

01:16:17fighting as jones did as far as that fight's concerned i'm disappointed but it was a good fight

01:16:22and uh johnny champion i thought that tapia did what they brought him here to do to look real good for

01:16:2812 rounds against a kid that wasn't going to get knocked out and he was going to get to do everything

01:16:32he did it was a perfectly programmed fight it was for the amusement and pleasure of 13 000 people

01:16:37they got their money's worth and now tapia can get back to work and get ready for romero because

01:16:41that's a fight does it matter that uh johnny tapia didn't knock out a guy who had lost four of his last

01:16:46six fights no it really doesn't matter at all some guys are not going to be knocked out they're just

01:16:50here to stay they go to distance there's been many guys over the course of time that just didn't get

01:16:54knocked out tiger ted lowry twice for morciano there's some guys that just go the distance no matter what

01:16:59this kid was here to go the distance all right how about a reminder about what's coming up uh on

01:17:05showtime at sct next month on sct pay-per-view in three weeks we'll travel south of the border to

01:17:11mexico city for a king vision sct pay-per-view broadcast featuring mexican legend julio cesar

01:17:17chavez versus miguel angel gonzalez for the vacant wbc super lightweight title the championship undercard

01:17:23has ricardo lopez the wbc 105 pound champ against the wba 105 pound champ resendo alvarez in the

01:17:30unification bow to the sport's lightest division also on the card wbc women's lightweight champion

01:17:36christy martin the coal miner's daughter faces danella summers catch this exciting championship

01:17:41triple header live on king vision sct pay-per-view from the plaza de toros a full ring in mexico city

01:17:48saturday march 7th at 9 p.m eastern 6 p.m pacific and right now here at the pit let's go back to

01:17:57jim gray jim all right thank you very much steve don an entertaining evening but if you're mr jones

01:18:04in that budwani fight you leave here thinking you were robbed it did seem like robbery

01:18:08your assessment my my assessment was i thought that jones won the fight

01:18:12i don't know what the judges were looking at but when i looked at jones won the fight but we always go

01:18:16with whatever the judges say but i thought that uh jones put up a great fight and they had two guys

01:18:21in the draw and then one had jones winning but i thought jones should have been winning the fight

01:18:25will they fight again i hope so because i think that the a spot is going to put up a protest uh so

01:18:31that really should be a rematch that fight should be a rematch because i do think jones got wrong we

01:18:35got a little time but a lot to talk about let's talk about mexico city coming up on march the 7th

01:18:40that's going to be a sensational fight we call it la guerra that's the war so it's going to be dos

01:18:44like get us that's julio cesar chavez taking on miguel angel gonzalez and gonzalez is trying now to

01:18:50dethrone the legendary julio cesar chavez who's the king of the hill at this moment in mexico and then

01:18:56you have ricardo lopez benito lopez one of the most sensational fighters in the world taking on uh

01:19:02rosindo alvarez and that's going to be another great fight because he's a wba champ and uh result uh

01:19:09ropez is the wbc champ so you will have a great uh unification there and that's going to be a

01:19:15great fight and of course christy martin the darling of america the coal miner's daughter

01:19:19will be right there in mexico fighting danielle summers so it's the darling of america the

01:19:23darling of america in the world maybe to you yeah well she's a terrific fighter no matter what

01:19:28you know what i mean if all fighters are hearty arrogant and impertinent so you know she's no

01:19:32different from the rest she's gonna she's feisty but she can fight so we are at no limits now that's what

01:19:38showtime is about no limits we're we're transcending earthly bounds we got great show on march the

01:19:437th march the 21st we're in france in paris with fabrice teosto defending his cruiserweight crown

01:19:50against johnny ray and then we have fabulous frankie loud taking on skalikov the russian

01:19:56number one challenger and the audition to that we have keith holmes the wbc middleweight champion

01:20:02taking on sharifi another french fighter for the mandatory challenge for his crown so that's

01:20:07going to be a great day in paris april in paris or spring pass we got paris hold on a second hold

01:20:14on a second okay hold on a second we got paris we got puerto rico with felix trinidad the greatest

01:20:21welterweight in the world bar none will knock out oscar de la hoya at the drop of a dime and if you don't

01:20:28believe that and come on down let's make that match okay okay all right hold on a second now don let me

01:20:34have my you're getting a lot of say here everybody wants to know about evander holyfield no is it

01:20:39going to be akawande is it going to be von bean are we going to south africa for both of where are we

01:20:43going with the vander holyfield i saw him this week and he's going back into training he's not going

01:20:47back into training if he's not going to fight who's he going to fight where and when well we're going to

01:20:51south africa to fight for the homage to one of the most remarkable men of this century the man the

01:20:59medeva uh nelson mandela the president of south africa from the prison to the presidency presidency

01:21:05uh this is going to fight we're going to call it a fight for a peace and goodwill journey to freedom

01:21:10and it's going to be one of the greatest shows that we've ever had right there in south africa when

01:21:15we're we're we're this close to getting out so we can make an announcement we're working on it

01:21:19previously but everything is falling into place and the medeva is very happy about uh holyfield coming

01:21:25down that be against both of down there that would be against both because he's a white south african

01:21:30from south africa and it was it makes a great show down there and we're going to have a freedom

01:21:34festival we got clans avon of the chairman of motown oscar corn the chairman of abc booking

01:21:40they're going to handle the music for the music festival that's going to take place in south africa

01:21:44and we're going to pay homage to the 80th birthday of one of the most remarkable great men in

01:21:50the world that brings white and black together working together works as his theme and he's doing a

01:21:55tremendous job and all the world leaders will be invited to this globalization your plate is full

01:22:00done we look forward to it all let's go back to steve albert at showtime we have no limit no limit

01:22:07to what show time go ahead steve this could go all night you want to be able to thank matt frank and

01:22:11and and it's the don king post game show ladies and gentlemen of course when he called every fighter

01:22:17impertinent and argumentative he he didn't could be me couldn't be no it's impossible argumentative no no

01:22:23not me as we wind things down let's go back and take a look at the highlights of tonight's boxing

01:22:27for the pit and albuquerque with the non-argumentative purdy pacheco

01:22:34airs where you see the tall jones trying to put it together some defense against one of the few times

01:22:41that budoni came uh to fight and carried that today but he did he needed to win round 12 but he did to

01:22:47her to draw and retain the title and then in the main event we start with this wild ring entrance

01:22:54well you know this was total domination by johnny tap he did everything he got headbutted

01:22:59threw his game off a little early maybe made him fight a little out of his rhythm but he boxed he

01:23:03banged he used the body shots he did everything he wanted to do he was beautiful and i enjoyed watching

01:23:07it's unanimous decision no problem at all for hometown hero johnny tapia let's put the final

01:23:16stamp on it frenchman laurent budwani keeps guillermo jones from becoming the first panamanian since

01:23:21roberto duran to win this belt in a very controversial decision we thought jones won the fight and a

01:23:27triumphant return johnny tapia sends the fans home happy here in albuquerque gives himself a nice birthday

01:23:33present his 13th defense of the wbo title second of the ivf beating rodolfo blanco he remains undefeated

01:23:40in 45 fights it is quite a homecoming for johnny tapia and that'll do it for another edition of

01:23:47showtime championship boxing we hope you enjoyed it with better than 13 200 on hand at the pit we'll see

01:23:54you again march 7th from mexico city for the fight doctor ferdy pacheco bobby chez jim gray and our

01:23:59entire crew steve alberts saying so long from albuquerque

01:24:13so long from albuquerque to the first time we've got a great victory and we've got a great victory

01:24:25so

01:24:26Oh, the camera just got punched by an Eric Hook.

01:24:56Good left hand by Norris above us.

01:25:01That is it!

01:25:03The reign of Prince Nathalie continues.

01:25:20Frankie Randall comes right back.

01:25:26What a great opera.

01:25:36That was a thing of beauty.

01:25:37The winner by unanimous decision and new champion.

01:25:47Imagine a place where anything is possible and let Showtime take you there.

01:25:56And let Showtime take you there.

01:26:06And let Showtime take you there.

01:26:09And let Showtime take you there.

01:26:19And let Showtime take you there.

01:26:29And let Showtime take you there.

01:26:32Right showtime take you there bignouper.

Johnny Tapia vs Rodolfo Blanco - Showtime 2-13-98

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