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Tapia leaves hospital; wife urges help for boxer
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Albuquerque boxer Johnny Tapia checked himself out of the hospital against doctors orders and his wife says he's a serious drug addict who needs help "before he ends up dead."
Teresa Tapia made the comments Thursday to KOAT-Channel 7.
Tapia, 40, was hospitalized early Monday in critical condition for what Albuquerque police described as an apparent drug overdose. Tapia, a five-time world boxing champion who has had a history of drug use and run-ins with the law, was discharged from the Presbyterian Hospital sometime Wednesday, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Earlier that day, Teresa Tapia, the boxer's wife and manager, told The Tribune that her husband was improving but was "not out of the woods yet."
The KOAT-Channel 7 report on its Web site said Tapia is recovering in a hotel room.
Tapia is expected to face drug charges after he is fully recovered.
He also learned that his brother-in-law and nephew died in a car crash while they were on their way to visit him in the hospital.
Teresa Tapia said her husband is having a difficult time coping with the tragedy and the expected drug charges.
"When Johnny's dirty, everyone knows it because he always messes up or does something stupid," Teresa Tapia told KOAT in a television interview Thursday from a South Valley cemetery where she was choosing a burial plot for her brother.
"He'd been clean for awhile, and that's why it's so disappointing.
"He's facing charges so it's a lot of stuff. It's overwhelming. Right now, he's kind of shut down completely and just isn't dealing with anything and is living in his own reality."
Teresa Tapia told KOAT that her husband must kick his drug habit.
"That's what I've discussed with Johnny," she said. "Two people lost their lives here. Again, the base of it is because of drugs. It's not that it's Johnny's fault - I'm not saying that - but the drugs need to be addressed, and if he's not willing to do that, then he's going to find himself a very lonely man."
Teresa Tapia said he'll need the support of his family, friends and the boxing community to change his life.
"Everyone in New Mexico loves him," she said. "The world loves Johnny. But I think we need to come together and make him face his problem. There's no more hiding it. There's no more just saying it's OK and sugar-coating it.
"The truth is, he's a drug addict who is in need of help who's going to end up dead, in prison or on the streets."
Tapia initially was taken to Presbyterian Hospital early Monday after his wife called 911 from a hotel, saying her husband was having trouble breathing.
Albuquerque police said it appeared to be an overdose and Tapia would be charged with possession of a controlled substance. Police had discovered a plastic bag containing cocaine.
Three weeks ago, Tapia won a majority decision over Evaristo Primero of El Paso. Tapia, whose record is 56-5-2, billed that fight as his farewell to the ring.
Tapia has won five titles in three weight classes, winning the WBA bantamweight title, the IBF and WBO junior bantamweight titles and the IBF featherweight belt.
