Tapia-Contreras Press Conference Notes from Albuquerque

25.09 - Tapia will host a charity event at 7pm tomorrow night (Thursday) at The Jockey Club in Albuquerque. Beneficiaries include fallen New Mexican fighter Andres Fernandes, The Boys & Girls Ranches of New Mexico and Casa Angelica in Albuquerque. The $50 price includes dinner and a live auction of memorabilia from Tapia and numerous other fighters. Tickets can be purchased by calling
505/884-7484.

Carlos Contreras: “I’m happy to be here in Tapia’s backyard. I trained 100% for this and I’m predicting a knockout. I know I can’t win a decision here. So I’m going to get Tapia into a fight.”

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad: Johnny is 100% both mentally and physically. He’s going to give the people of Albuquerque a homecoming they’ll never forget.

I wish I could speak Spanish so I could tell Carlos here that he’s going to experience something that he’s never experienced in his life. Guaranteed. Johnny’s going to give my man here (Contreras), a send off he’ll never forget.

In my mind, there are only two people in the boxing world who know how to fight. Roberto Duran and Tapia. You can’t tell these guys how to fight. They wrote the book. I’m not Johnny’s trainer. I’m his reminder.

Johnny Tapia: “I give Carlos a lot of credit for wanting to fight me. But no one is going to come into my state and try to take me out. This guy comes into my town talking shit. He can’t even look me in the eye. I’m ready to go20 or 30 rounds. The only way I go is in a coma. I ain’t going no where.

I’m still the same Johnny Tapia with the rehab or without. I’m just trying to better myself. That’s all.

We’re going to go for it. I can see it already. Maybe my game plan goes out the door. I’ve been boxing pretty, but I’m in Albuquerque and you know what happens here.

I’ve changed trainers like switching my shorts. Me and The Champ have great respect for each other. We enjoy each other."