Barelas’ own. Five-division world champion. The city’s fighter.
Johnny Tapia was a Barelas kid who learned to fight in Albuquerque and carried this city into five world-title divisions. The town still says his name first when it talks about boxing.
He was called the Godfather of Burque boxing, and Mi Vida Loca, because the life was his and the work was public. We write the champion. The belts, the gyms, the neighborhood that claimed him.
This page is a tribute from home. It is not authorized by his family, and the picture is a gym, not his face.
Independent tribute to an Albuquerque hero. Not affiliated with the person, the family, or any team or foundation that carries the name. We don’t use their photograph. See a mistake? Write dukecitylegends@gmail.com.