“If you feel you’re living in someone’s shadow, you should move.” – Sarah Silverman
Many of us follow in the footsteps of one of our parents whether we intend to or not. The actions of our ancestors and occurrences that happened in their lives get passed down through DNA and shape the person we develop into.
Johnny Tapia is a name that resonates with many of us boxing fans. If not please go and do some research. To appreciate where the fighters of today are you have to go back and look at the past. Todays fighters would be nothing without the previous generations (and those generations with the ones that preceded them).
Tapia had a rollercoaster life that when you look at it seems like it came from Hollywood. If anything it was more of a Shakespearean story full of love and tragedy. That love was strong for whoever deserved it and the ones that deserved it the most were Tapia’s wife Teresa and his children.
Johnny Tapia Jr. grew up around boxing. His father was a legend to him not because of his accomplishments in the ring but because of the love and adoration he had for his family. Boxing was always a possibility but dedication and approval from his mom had to be there to continue the family legacy.
Jr. will make his amateur debut on July 31st in New Mexico. He wants to fight a minimum ten fights as an amateur and then if things work out move on to becoming a professional. In doing so there will be an inevitable shadow cast from his late father. It sucks but that’s how it is whenever your parent was someone notable. The shadow will not come as an issue for Jr. though as his style is not like his father’s (that’s his younger brother Johnny III who will also make his amateur debut on the same date). Jr. is more of a defensive fighter.
“I feel like no one can really surpass my dad’s legacy. That’s not what I want,” Jr. told TBV. “I want people to know that I am my own person and I am someone completely different and not my dad.”
The name is there and the promise that Jr. has is huge. Ten fights can come and go fast in the amateurs it it won’t be long until will see this promising second generation fighter making his pro debut. The most important lesson his legendary father taught him was don’t get hit. The style may be different but the heart is the same and come July 31st you will know his name.
