Tapia, Barrera warned about antics in the ring

Dean Juipe

Friday, Nov. 1, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

For all the peacefulness and tranquility that has preceded his Saturday fight with Marco Antonio Barrera, Johnny Tapia has been known to find himself in the middle of trouble.

At least once before a big fight and at least once after another one, Tapia either initiated a scuffle or was part of one.

As a result, Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner has warned Tapia -- as well as Barrera -- that such antics will not be allowed before or after their featherweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden.

"I've talked to both camps about this," Ratner said Thursday. "They've both lost controversial decisions here, but they're also both professionals and I expect to see them handle themselves in a professional manner.

"I will say I'm not concerned and I don't expect anything untoward. The MGM will have the proper security."

But Tapia, particularly, has the reputation of a poor loser. He blames both of the losses on his ledger, each to Paulie Ayala, on those fights' promoter, Bob Arum.

Tapia also shoved Ayala before the opening bell of their first fight, June 26, 1999, and his brother-in-law, Robert Gutierrez, punched Arum's right-hand man, Todd duBoef, in the face following Tapia's loss to Ayala in their Oct. 7, 2000, rematch.

Gutierrez, a cornerman for Tapia, was suspended by the NSAC but has since been relicensed. For this fight with Barrera, he will be allowed to assist Tapia from the floor but is barred from entering the ring.

Within the ring, Jay Nady was selected to referee the fight at the commission's Thursday meeting and Chuck Giampa, Bill Graham and Dave Moretti -- each, like Nady, a Las Vegan -- were named as judges.

Barrera, 55-3 with 39 knockouts, is better than a 4-1 favorite in the MGM sports books.

Tapia, 52-2-2 with 28 KOs, acknowledges his troubled past is never too far away.

"I can mess up tonight or tomorrow," he said, alluding to past problems with drugs, depression and an attempted suicide.