By Jessica Dyer and Ashley Trevizo
Albuquerque Journal
ALBEQUERQUE, N.M. — The 911 call from the home of Johnny Tapia on Sunday evening started out with a relatively calm request for an ambulance, but quickly dissolved into frantic pleas for help as it became clear the five-time boxing world champion was dead.
Multiple female voices can be heard on the emergency call, a 10-minute recording.
“Please. I need an ambulance,” a female voice says, before the operator urges her to slow down. “I found my husband. He’s unconscious; he’s not moving. Please get here.”
As the caller’s panic level rises, the phone is apparently passed to another woman. Pressed by the operator for additional details about Tapia’s condition, the caller says he’s not breathing and describes him as “stiff” and “purple” and mentions blood. As the operator tries to explain mouth-tomouth techniques, the woman on the line says, almost in a whisper, “He’s gone, he’s gone. ... He’s cold; there’s nothing.”
“He’s cold?” the operator asks. “Do you think he’s beyond any help right now?”
“Yeah,” she replies. “Yes, sir. He’s gone.”
Tapia, whose boxing prowess and larger-than-life personality was world-renowned, was 45.
The shock and anguish heard in the 911 call police released Tuesday echoed throughout the state and beyond, as friends, family and fans mourned the loss of the fighter who some say was the best bantam weight boxer in history, who never met a person he didn’t call friend - but who battled drug problems most of his life.
Tapia’s death made national news - with headlines in the New York Times and CNN.
Family and fans continued to visit Team Tapia Gym in Albuquerque late Tuesday to remember the champion boxer’s life. Dozens of flowers, candles and homemade posters decorated the outdoor walls of the gym, with many sending prayers to the family.
Peter Sandoval, 30, is a Tapia fan and has been watching him fight since the 1990s.
“Every time he went out boxing, he was always representing Albuquerque. He did have a crazy life - a lot of us out here have crazy lives - but his boxing out-shined all he was going through,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval said Tapia’s big heart contributed to his impact on the community. Tapia’s passing, Sandoval said, is a definite loss to Albuquerque.
“He is a warrior for New Mexico. He was the type of person who made you strive to be a better person,” Sandoval said.
Wife’s assistant
Albuquerque police records attribute the 911 call to Pamela Chavez, who is the assistant to Tapia’s wife Teresa, but the caller isn’t heard identifying herself by that name. Multiple women can be heard on the recording, including one who identifies herself as Teresa’s sister, Eva.
Though the man is referred to as “Johnny” during the call, it’s not made clear that it is the Albuquerque boxer.
As the 911 operator continues trying to elicit additional information, the caller grows increasingly distressed. There are loud screaming wails and, at one point, she seems to be addressing Tapia through sobs: “Johnny, come on, baby, come on, honey, come on. ... Please, Johnny, listen to me. Please don’t do this now.”
The operator asks if Tapia had been sick, but gets only a muffled answer that she takes as a “no” and then “I don’t know.”
She then asks about drug use but the conversation becomes hard to understand.
“Does he do drugs, ma’am,” the operator asks.
“I don’t know. I mean ... " the caller responds through tears, her words becoming hard to make out.
“You don’t know if he does drugs?” the operator asks again.
“He’s purple,” the caller responds and then her voice becomes almost indecipherable.
Tapia’s longtime battle with cocaine addiction nearly cost him his life on several occasions, though it’s still unclear what ultimately led to his death. Albuquerque police have referred the case to the Office of the Medical Investigator for autopsy, and the final determination is likely weeks away. Police have reported that there was nothing suspicious about the scene, such as weapons or drugs.
The 911 call was made at 6:41 p.m. Sunday, and the news of Tapia’s death spread quickly.
Shocked and saddened
Tapia’s family also was at the gym Tuesday. His cousin, Ramona Mcguinness, said she was shocked and saddened by the news of his passing. She described his personality as silly and funny, saying he started to shine more when he started boxing and became a champion.
“He touched a lot of hearts. He was very giving and friendly. He was a good family man, a good cousin, and he’s just going to be missed by many, many people,” Mcguinness said.
How well was Tapia known, and what was the impact of his death in the boxing world at large? The New York Times published a lengthy obituary story on the Albuquerque fighter and on Tuesday, boxing writer Dan Rafael of ESPN.com tweeted that he was about to be interviewed by an Irish radio station and website about the Albuquerquean, his career and his passing.
Earlier, Rafael tweeted: “I have said for years that I believed Johnny Tapia should someday be in the (boxing Hall of Fame).”
Rafael has also tweeted: "(Tapia was) probably the best junior bantamweight in history.”
Copyright 2012 Albuquerque Journal