Tapia Sticks It To Romero

Johnny Tapia turned a grudge match between hometown rivals into a boxing exhibition Friday night, scoring a unanimous decision over Danny Romero in a fight between the two junior bantamweight champions.

Tapia dominated with his left hand and outboxed Romero, who grew increasingly frustrated as he tried desperately to land a big right hand in the late rounds to turn the fight around.

Tapia, the WBO 115-pound champion, won the early rounds and was in control late as he added the IBF version of the title that Romero had held.

Tapia was so in command of the fight that, after the bell sounded to end the 11th round, he wrapped his arm around Romero’s neck and stuck his tongue out at his Albuquerque, N.M., rival.