Police spokesman Robert Gibbs said that authorities responded to a call to Tapia’s home at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, and that the death didn’t appear to be suspicious.
Tapia, 45, won five championships in three weight classes throughout his career, which included a 59-5-2 record with 30 knockouts. The New Mexico native was known just as much for his out-of-the-ring antics as his in-ring success, however, becoming a crowd favorite as a result of his eccentric personality.
Tapia had a number of run-ins with the law over the years, while also battling alcohol and cocaine problems and suffering from depression. In fact, Tapia was banned from boxing for 3 1/2 years during the 1990s for his cocaine addiction.
He would, however, obtain championship glory in 1994 after being reinstated, and then eventually captured four more titles while playing an underdog role. His last fight, a victory, came last June.
An autopsy will be performed on Tapia’s body in the coming days, according to Gibbs.
Click here to read about Johnny Tapia’s incredible life story >>
Photo via Facebook/Johnny Tapia
