26 years ago
Johnny Tapia vs Rodolfo Blanco
Date: 13th February 1998
Venue: University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Title: IBF & WBO World Super-flyweight Titles
Promoter: Don King Productions
Tv: Showtime
Johnny Tapia
(
42
-
0
-
2
)
Weight: 115 lbs
Rodolfo Blanco
(
29
-
11
-
1
)
Weight: 115 lbs
Tapia made the thirteenth defence of his WBO World Super-flyweight Title and the second of his IBF version against Colombian Rodolfo Blanco at the University Arena in his hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
'Mi Vida Loca,' as Tapia was known, won the IBF Title in a July 1997 unification match against Danny Romero Jr and was one of the most popular boxers in America despite numerous run-ins with the law.
Blanco briefly held the IBF World Flyweight Title in 1992 when he travelled to Bilbao, Spain to dethrone Northern Ireland's, Dave McAuley. He lost the title five months later in Thailand to Pichit Sithbanprachan.
Tapia at home against any Super-flyweight in the world was a tough proposition at that time and Blanco never came close to taking the title, going down on a wide unanimous points decision.
Scores: William Gantt 120-107 | Harold Gomes 120-107 | Bill Ray 119-108.