He is The Jersey Boy yes, but sort of not really anymore.
Glen Tapia is 26, a doting dad, and a guy who has looked into the eye of the beast that are his limitations.
Twice he has lost, via stoppage, to James Kirkland in 2013, and then last May, to Michel Soro.
He is addressing the limitations in one way, by moving from 154 to 160. And he is flipping double middle fingers at ’em, by signing to fight detonator David Lemieux in his first 160 fight.
His fierce resolve to show the planet his heart is 100 percent warrior must be applauded.
Another stoppage, well..you can deduce the takeaway from that to his psyche, to his career.
May 7, The Jersey Boy mans up, and the stakes are immense.
His manager is Patrick Lynch, who also reps Julian Rodriguez and repped Arturo Gatti. He told me that yes, he is thinking hard on this difficult assignment for Tapia. “He could have taken an easy fight but he’s thinking, for what, what does that prove?” Tapia is 165 right now, able to eat normally, feels strong, he said. But make no mistake, Lynch knows Lemieux can crack and knows his kid knows. “If God forbid he got stopped, I will be the first one to tell him to get into something else,” he said. “It sometimes is unfortunate, but this is the sport we are in.” Lynch knows the kid is a warrior heart, who wants to be on that big stage and excel. He is a risk taker and wants to get to the narrow of life. He gets it.
Here is the release which went out to hype the clash:
LOS ANGELES (March 21, 2016) – Before WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion, Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and former two-time world champion Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) step into the ring at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 7 for the biggest fight of 2016 thusfar, three hard-hitting bouts have been confirmed to get fight fans ready for the main event.
Canada’s biggest boxing star and former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) will be looking to make an impression and use his power against the swift contender from Passaic, New Jersey, Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (23-2, 15 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight co-main event.
As part of the televised undercard, top rated contender, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera(22-5, 7 KOs) of Riverside, Calif. will move up to welterweight to face East Los Angeles’ undefeated star Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (20-0, 13 KOs)in a 10-round welterweight fight sure to excite boxing fans.
Opening up the pay-per-view telecast, heavy-handed Brazilian star Patrick Teixeira (26-0, 22 KOs) is set to face former world title challenger Curtis “Showtime” Stevens (27-5, 20 KOs) in a 10-round career-defining middleweight bout.
The live mega event, which matches some of boxing’s most popular and recognizable fighters against each other in exciting matchups will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
“I am back,” said David Lemieux. “I am coming back strong and ready to be on top of the middleweight division where I belong.”
“This is a make or break moment,” said Glen Tapia. “I can’t wait to show everyone what I am made of. People will see a new and improved Glen Tapia and this is the best place to show it; as part of a stellar undercard. I know David will be a tough opponent, but I am ready for this challenge to take on the best in the division and show the world a fully realized Glen Tapia.”
“We want to give back to the fans with this undercard and provide thrilling, action-packed bouts leading up to the main event with Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan on May 7,” said Oscar De La Hoya. “We appreciate the fans support and wanted to give them the best bang for their buck with these televised undercard fights. To watch exciting, competitive undercard bouts leading up to the biggest boxing event so far of 2016 will help to create buzz by the time Canelo and Amir reach the ring and fans pay to feel a part of that electric atmosphere.”
“I am extremely happy for David to be on such a high profile card as the co-main event to Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan,” said Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger Management. “David is motivated, now more than ever, to reconquer his status as a world champion and winning this fight will get him closer to his goal. I am confident David will put on a fight to remember on May 7.”
“This is a great opportunity for Glen, he knows he has to be at his best against a warrior like Lemeuix,” said Pat Lynch, Manager to Glen Tapia. “I know he is up for the challenge and will give everyone Mat 7a great fight to remember.”
“May 7 is the day I have to slaughter another young lion to prove myself again,” said Mauricio Herrera. “Frankie Gomez is a strong fighter that will bring the absolute best out of me. I will be in tip top shape for the mega-event.”
“This is the kind of fight I have been training for my entire career,” said Frankie Gomez. “Herrera is a recognized and ranked fighter, he has a lot of experience and it’s my chance to prove myself and show everyone who has doubted me, what I can do in the ring. I feel very excited to be part of a great undercard, fans can expect an exciting night, don’t miss it.”
“I am excited to be part of one of the biggest boxing events of the year,” said Patrick Teixeira. “I promise to go out to the ring fully prepared for the best Curtis Stevens and show that I am a fighter to be feared in the middleweight division. I want to thank my team and Golden Boy Promotions for this opportunity, and on May 7 fans can expected to see an exciting fight opening the televised event.”
“This guy is a zero and has got to go,” said Curtis Stevens. “I’m ready to start climbing up in the rankings again and am happy to be on this great HBO card with my man Canelo Alvarez.”
“This is a great crossroads match up for Curtis on a big platform,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events. “He needs to deliver on May 7th and I know he will!”
Here is the release which went out to hype the clash pitting the Canadian, 1-0 since colliding with Gennady Golovkin.
