Last December, boxing fans watched Glen "Jersey Boy" Tapia lose the first fight in his career, getting stopped in the sixth round by James Kirkland. Fans watched as Tapia took a brutal beating, wonering what was going on in the corner as it was clear to those watching that he couldn't continue, but he kept getting sent out for more punishment. "I talked to him about it, I know he made a mistake...he should have stopped the fight," Tapia said about Alex Devia, his trainer at the time. Tapia has since parted ways with Devia, although he says the slpit was amicable and the "mistake" had nothing to do with his decision to team up with Hall of Fame Trainer Freddie Roach.
This past Saturday night in Atlantic City, Tapia made his first trip to the ring with Roach in his corner and won via first round TKO. "I feel good...I missed my fans," said Tapia of his quick but successful comeback fight. "I wanted to make a statement, so it feels good." The celebration wont be long for him, however, as he'll return to camp next week to prepare for a July 26 matchup against Boyd Melson (14-1-1) on the HBO undercard of Gennady Golvokin vs. Daniel Geale in New York's famed Madison Square Garden. It is a fight that Tapia says he feels good about.
For Tapia, the decision to join forces with Freddie Roach was not an easy one. It is well known that Tapia has spent time as chief sparring partner for Roach's star principal Manny Pacquaio. "Freddie had offered to train me a long time ago, but I turned him down out of loyalty." After taking some time to think about it, Tapia finally decided to take Roach up on the offer. "We have a great bond...He teaches me a lot." One of the things Tapia has learned from Roach is to use his brain more "He tells me to fight with my mind more than my heart...I want to please the fans and put on a show that sometimes I fight with my heart when I should use my brain a little more...That's something I learned in the Kirkland fight too...it taught me to fight with my mind."
While Tapia says the win on Saturday night felt good, he never lost his confidence following the loss to Kirkland. Though various media reports had him in bad shape following the fight, he says, "my face was lumped up, but I walked to the hospital; I wasn't rushed to the hospital like people said. We both went to the hospital to get checked out; I was good, I was laughing." He admits, however, that the days following the loss brought some sadness. "I was sad for like three days. I thought 'poor me, I lost,' but on the third day, I was over it. I had to pick myself up and keep it moving...I was mad at myself because I knew I could have won the fight; if I had stuck to the game plan I had going into the fight, I know I could have won."
Positivity is a constant for Tapia in motivating not only himself, but the children in his neighborhood as well. "I keep positive; I tell myself that I am a role model...I came from being a ghetto little kid to where I am at now...I just want to show these kids that if you work hard and put your mind to it, you can do anything." He continued, "I don't believe in excuses...there are always people in worse off positions that overcome and get somewhere." That positive attitude is proving helpful for Tapia, who has visions of brining back the buzz that boxing once brought to New Jersey, when Arturo Gatti was fighting at Boardwalk Hall. For fight fans from the garden state, it is a very memorable time, culminating with the second and third fight in Gatti's legendary trilogy with "Irish" Micky Ward. A Gatti fight was an event in the state, with numerous sellouts and fights that left a lasting impression. "I want to bring that back to New Jersey...and it's going to happen...people are starting to understand my plan. I fight for the people, I love giving them a show and it's getting bigger and bigger."
A few things not in Tapia's plans are a change in weight class and looking past his next opponent. "I am comfortable at 154. This is my weight. I'm only looking at who is in front of me and right now that is Boyd Melson; after that, it is up to my team." The team he speaks of consists of promoter Top Rank, trainer Freddie Roach, and a man all too familiar with the visions Tapia has for his future, Pat Lynch. Lynch managed Arturo Gatti through his memorable career and has been by Tapia's side form the beginning. "Pat and I have been through it all together. He has seen me grow," says the Jersey Boy.
With the positive attitude, the drive, and the confidence that Tapia exudes, it is hard not to cheer for him. He leaves for camp in California next week and while he is not exactly happy about the idea of being away from his daughter for another five to seven weeks, he knows that everything he does is "to make her life better." Tapia is aware that to get where he wants to be, it is going to take time. "People want to be the best when they jump in this sport; they are quick to tear successful people down, but that isn't going to get them to the top. Everybody has their time, they just have to earn it." I have a feeling watching Tapia "earn it" is going to be quite an enjoyable journey.