Today, Mexican-American five-time world boxing champion, Johnny Tapia’s wife disclosed that the boxer died from heart disease back in May of this year.

Teresa Tapia, according to KOAT, said her husband’s heart simply stopped beating on May 27, 2012 causing the 45-year-old’s death.  No drugs were found in his system.  Tapia was found dead by a family member at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Tapia won five championships in three weight classes, winning the WBA bantamweight title, the IBF and WBO junior bantamweight titles and the IBF featherweight belt.

But his career also was marked by cocaine addiction, alcohol, depression and run-ins with the law. He was hospitalized for three days in 2007 after an apparent cocaine overdose.

Tapia last fought in June, defeating Mauricio Pastrana in an eight-round decision. He finished with a 59-5-2 record.