ALBUQUERQUE -- Five-time world champion boxer Johnny Tapia
hasn't been indicted on drug possession charges stemming from an
overdose in March, but his attorney and the district attorney's
office are working toward a possible plea agreement.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Drebing said if a deal is reached,
Tapia's May 15 appearance before a grand jury would be unnecessary.
Tapia, 40, was taken to an Albuquerque hospital March 12 after
paramedics responded to his hotel room. His wife and manager,
Teresa Tapia, had called 911 and reported that he wasn't breathing.
Tapia was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but left
three days later.
Albuquerque police said they found three baggies of cocaine in
the boxer's hotel room.
Tapia has a history of cocaine use and run-ins with the law.
Drebing said Tapia faces a charge of drug possession and
possibly drug-paraphernalia possession.
Drebing said the district attorney's office usually focuses on
treatment and counseling in a case like this.
"If it's not crimes of a violent nature, multiple crimes or
anything like that, the goal is to get them off drugs," he said.
Tapia's latest trouble came a couple of weeks after he won a
majority decision over Evaristo Primero of El Paso, Texas. 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.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, www.abqjournal.com