by TMZ Staff – Authorities will perform an autopsy on Johnny Tapia today — two days after the former boxing champ was mysteriously found dead in his home … TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us the New Mexico Medical Examiner’s office has scheduled the autopsy … which will include toxicology testing to determine an exact cause of death..
As we previously reported, the five time champ’s body was found by a family member on Sunday evening. Police have said there was nothing suspicious about the death.
Tapia was 45-years-old.
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WBO EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO JOHNNY TAPIA’S FAMILY AND SHOWS SUPPORT TO PAUL WILLIAMS
World Boxing Organization (WBO) president, Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, expresses his condolences to the family of the former world champion Johnny Tapia after his death and shows support to former world champion Paul Williams, who had an accident last Sunday, that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Tapia (59-5-2, 30 KOs) was a five time world champion, being WBO super flyweight and bantamweight king from 1994 to 2000. He was found dead last Sunday inside his home.
“We give our condolences to his family. We had become friends, with his wife Teresa too. He was a good person, but he had drug problems, and he was defeated himself in his life”, Valcarcel said. “We want, as part of our program “Kids Drug Free”, the youth to look in this mirror to avoid the mistakes Tapia made”.
About Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), who was a WBO welterweight and junior middleweight champion, Valcarcel said that “we are sorry for this accident. Williams is a great boxer and a good person. We want him to recover and back to his normal life. We are going to contact his manager to give them our support”.
Remember the 25th Annual Convention WBO Silver Jubilee and Election to be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino from October 22 to October 26, 2012. For reservations at the Seminole HardRock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida you can call 1 800 937-0010 or access www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com. More information at www.wboboxing.com.