[Crimson]

Saturday, September 26, 1992
The Pit; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Johnny Tapia 24-0-2 (12) New Mexico IBF
vs.
Jose Quirino 29-6 (9) Mexico WBO
Johnny Tapia fever had caught fire in his home state of New Mexico and fans were piling into the Albuquerque University Arena, otherwise known as “The Pit”, for his attempt to unify the IBF and WBO Jr. Bantam titles. The tattooed and charismatic Tapia was creating a buzz in the boxing world and his talent was showing that it could match the hype around his story.

Seating 18,018 “The Pit” was unbelievably loud during Tapia’s ring walk. Jose Quirino however, had already shown that he could win in hostile terroritory when he upset Johnny Bredahl in Denmark.

- Tapia was a 3-1 favorite to win the fight.
- Both fighters entered the ring appearing to be in peak condition.
- Tapia tore after Quirino at the bell for round 1.
- 1 minute into the fight a left hook from Jose Quirino opened up an absolutely horrific cut over Johnny Tapia’s right eye, which began to gush blood immediately.
- The doctor then got on the ring apron and requested that referee, Gwen Adair, allow him to see the cut. Against severe protestation from Tapia and thunderous booing by the crowd, Tapia was brought to see the ring doctor. Despite Tapia’s pleading to at least be allowed to finish the round, the doctor after looking at the cut waved his hands indicating that Tapia should not be allowed to continue! The referee then stopped the fight.

The winner by 1st round TKO, Jose Quirino, had to be ushered out of the ring by security as there was so much debris being thrown into it by fans!
- Quirino left Albuquerque and the United States before anyone in the press was able to speak with him. Little is known about this Mexican battler.
Jose Quirino TKO1 Johnny Tapia (wins IBF title, defends WBO title)