Posted at: 07/03/2009 11:02 PM
By: Antoinette Antonio, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Boxer joins search for missing man

Arthur Chavez

An Albuquerque family is getting some heavy-hitting help in the search for their missing loved one.

Aurthur Chavez was last seen leaving a Red River bar nearly a month ago. Boxing champion Johnny Tapia is stepping in to help the Chavez family figure out what happened.

Instead of celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks and barbecues, the Chavez family is heading up to Red River to re-ignite the search for 29-year-old Arthur Chavez. Chavez' wife, Shyla Chavez, said of the search Friday, ?"It's been excruciating. Its very hard everyday not knowing where he is or if we're gonna find him and when we're gonna find him."

Chavez was last seen leaving the Bull O' the Woods Saloon on June 6 after reportedly falling and cutting his head.

His family is now turning to Chavez' cousin, Johnny Tapia. They hope the boxing champion's star power will bring attention to the case.

Tapia's own mother, Virginia, was stabbed to death when he was just eight years old. It took investigators more than 20 years to close that case.

Tapia said, "I know the feeling that they're going through and how rough it really is for them to not solve a story."

Shyla Chavez is grateful for the help. "We're hoping that by him coming on board and helping us that people will reach out to him and maybe they'll offer some information to him that they wouldn't to us," she said.

Tapia, along with the Chavez family, will be in the Red River 4th of July parade, holding pictures and missing persons fliers of Arthur Chavez in hopes of generating new leads in the case.

"We're asking people to please come forward. I'll do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes just to get him home," Tapia told Eyewitness News 4 on Friday.

Shyla knows there is someone out there with information. She said, "Someone had to have seen where he is, someone has to know where he is and its getting to a point where we're just desperate to know where he is."

Tapia will sign autographs and take pictures with fans at a press conference at the Questa Fire Department after the parade.

The family is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Chavez' whereabouts.

Family offers reward for info on missing man