Johnny Tapia was a force of nature. A five time, three weight, world champion, Hall of Fame, boxer. A drug addict who served time in prison. A much-loved husband and father. A man whose charisma and talent earned him countless friends and fans. Tapia lived ten lifetimes in his one and survived multiple near death experiences before his body finally gave up aged just 47.
The Ghost of Johnny Tapia is a short, sharp and entertaining read. At just 96 pages it naturally gives a pretty high level overview of Tapia’s life and career but there is more than enough there to capture the craziness, the charisma and the talent of a very unique man. In particular it gives a fascinating insight into the tragedies of his young life which gave rise to the demons he could never fully overcome.
While tragic, some of the stories in the book are mind-blowing. Tapia had the kind of charisma that draws people to him coupled with the talent to reach the very top of boxing. Sadly, he had demons, borne from a childhood of intense tragedy, and he simply couldn’t shake his addictions. There is something incredibly compelling about that kind of character, that intriguing mix of charisma and vulnerability that draws people in.
The book’s key strength is the co-operation of Johnny’s wife Teresa who gives a remarkably candid insight into their life together. Teresa is clearly a remarkable woman who put up with incredibly difficult behaviour from the man who she married aged 20 after knowing for just 2 weeks. .
I’d definitely love to read a fuller length biography of Tapia’s remarkable life. As an intro to his story, and a great excuse for a YouTube binge of his best moments, I’d definitely recommend The Ghost of Johnny Tapia.
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