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Teresa Tapia has stood by her man through drug relapses, near-death experiences and broken promises.

But no more.

The wife and manager of five-time world boxing champion Johnny Tapia said Friday she is ready to throw in the towel should he fail his latest chance at kicking his drug habit.

"Johnny is well aware of that," she said of her ultimatum, which she gave moments after state District Judge Kenneth Martinez issued his own ultimatum for the retired boxer to get clean.

Martinez agreed with a plan reached Friday between Tapia's attorney Antonio Maestas and Deputy District Attorney Mark Drebing to send Tapia to an inpatient drug treatment program in Taos.

Tapia, 40, was to report to the Taos Detox Center at 10 a.m. today.

Tapia had voluntarily committed himself to the Second Chance drug treatment program in Albuquerque in May, when he pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge for an incident in March that nearly killed him.

He asked to be moved two weeks ago because health problems did not allow him to participate in the saunas and vitamin B injections that are hallmarks of the Second Chance program.

Teresa Tapia said he could not breathe inside the sauna.

Martinez ordered her husband to remain at the Taos detox program for at least 30 days, after which Tapia will be transferred to Las Cruces for at least two more months of an intensive supervised outpatient program.

Drebing asked the court to take a zero-tolerance stand with Tapia, meaning if Tapia relapses - as he did two weeks ago - he faces prison time for reneging on the plea deal that assured him probation rather than up to 18 months in prison.

Martinez told Tapia this was his last chance to complete the treatment program.

"You're really on thin ice with the state and with the court on this matter," Martinez said.

He later added, "Good luck, be strong and complete the program."

Tapia gave a thumbs up to his wife, seated in the back of the courtroom - a far cry from a hearing two weeks ago in which he was given free rein to hug family members, friends and court personnel.

Teresa Tapia said she was grateful to Martinez for giving her husband another chance, but acknowledged Johnny has had plenty of chances to change.

"What is different this time is me," she said. "I've lost two people in this."

She was referring to the deaths of her brother and his adult son, who were killed in a one-car crash as they drove from Farmington to Albuquerque in March to visit Tapia in the hospital.

Empty and partly empty beer and liquor bottles were found in the car after the crash, State Police said.

Tapia has said he began doing drugs in his teenage years and has struggled with drug addiction ever since.

"I obviously love Johnny," Teresa Tapia said. "He battles his inner demons, but he has a heart of gold."

But should Johnny fail, Teresa said she is ready to leave him and begin a life on her own with their three sons, ages 2 to 15.

"If I keep staying, it just gives Johnny permission to keep failing," she said.

The judge had previously agreed to let the boxer serve six months of inpatient rehab in exchange for a sentence of probation.

Under the agreement reached Friday, Tapia will serve only four months of inpatient treatment and the rest on an outpatient basis.

Teresa Tapia dispelled rumors that the reason Johnny's attorney asked for less time in inpatient care was so he could begin training for an exhibition fight against Albuquerque rival Danny Romero Jr.

Romero, a two-time world champion, lost a title to Tapia in a 1997 fight in Las Vegas, Nev. They have not fought since.

"I don't know how that rumor started," she said. "Johnny is retired. He's 40."

She said the reason for the shorter inpatient time is because the family is moving to Las Cruces soon and would like him there, as well.

Tapia was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque on March 12 after being found unresponsive in a room at the Country Inn and Suites in the Northeast Heights.

Three baggies of cocaine were found in Tapia's hotel room, according to police reports.

Tapia had been allowed to leave the Second Chance program two weeks ago and remain free on the Community Custody Program - which requires the wearing of an ankle monitor - while his attorney sought out an alternate rehab program.

The next day, Second Chance officials reported Tapia had tested positive for drugs. He was remanded back into Second Chance until he was accepted by another program.

Tapia's attorney Maestas said his client has made more efforts than most people who face felony drug charges.

"He's paid a tremendous price already," Maestas said. "He's taken full responsibility for his conduct, and now he is trying to focus on his family and his health and, hopefully, his career."