Teresa Tapia Claims Ex-husband Beat Her

Jeffrey Padilla, left, and Teresa Tapia are seen seated at ringside during a boxing event at the Cascada Hotel in May 2014. Tapia said she has been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of Padilla. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) The widow of the late boxing champion Johnny Tapia said Thursday she has been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of the man she believed to be Tapia’s half brother. “Jeffrey beat me so badly, he almost killed me,” she said Thursday, “and it wasn’t on (just) one occasion.” At a hastily called news conference at the Tapia boxing gym, Teresa Tapia said she continues to be harassed, intimidated and threatened by Jeffrey Padilla, her ex-husband, and his father, Jerry Padilla Sr. She also disclosed Thursday that she was convicted of a felony drug charge – possession with the intent to distribute – early in her relationship with Johnny Tapia.