The June 26, 1999, fight between Paulie Ayala and Johnny Tapia was set against a backdrop of stark contrasts. Tapia, the undefeated WBA bantamweight champion (46-0-2), was a flamboyant star known for his "Mi Vida Loca" persona and turbulent life outside the ring. Ayala (27-1), a disciplined but lesser-known southpaw, had failed in his only prior title shot in Japan—a fight unseen by U.S. audiences, which may have led Tapia’s... see more