Tony Ayala is dead

[evrenb]

Read on another site that the much troubled former contender is dead at 52.

[elmersalsa]

RIP. An exciting slugger and brawler with a terrific punching power. I remember him in the early 80s when he was supposed to be the star of the 154lbs class.

I think El Torito was the number one contender for Davey Moore's WBA world title. And also, he was in line to fight the great Roberto Duran. I would have love to see that fight in the 80s.

I think he went to jail because of a rape conviction if I remember correctly. And his shot for the title was gone.

[Scypion]

RIP. An exciting slugger and brawler with a terrific punching power. I remember him in the early 80s when he was supposed to be the star of the 154lbs class.

I think El Torito was the number one contender for Davey Moore's WBA world title. And also, he was in line to fight the great Roberto Duran. I would have love to see that fight in the 80s.

I think he went to jail because of a rape conviction if I remember correctly. And his shot for the title was gone.

You may have it mixed up with what happened to Mike Tyson. I remember him being arrested for breaking into a home. I could be wrong. Maybe it was a rape charge.

He was pretty tough. He seemed to be right at home in the boxing ring.. Too bad that we'll never see how great he could have been.

[yancey]

Tough life.

I hope Tony found some peace.

[orbtastic]

He definitely got sent to prison for rape! He had form for it, he did the same thing again after being released from prison.

[evrenb]

He definitely got sent to prison for rape! He had form for it, he did the same thing again after being released from prison.

You are right - particularly harrowing case for the poor victim. (All rape is of course - I believe this poor lady was tortured too). On Palooka's suggestion I read 'Boxing Babylon' and that had a very interesting chapter on Ayala (prior to his first release). Seemed he was rehabilitated ..but as we all know he re-offended. So disappointing a life had, but let none of us forget that this man more than likely ruined the life of those innocent women forever.
I know Ayala said he was molested as a child which makes the whole story tragic. . .

[orbtastic]

Yeah that's right. The Nigel Collins book? I think I read somewhere he broke one girl's back.

He was right on the cusp of a shot against Davey Moore but I don't really remember that period with any detail. I remember him being released and his comeback which went ok until he ran into Yori Boy Campas.

His brother Mike fought Danny Lopez after injecting heroin earlier in the day, he was a tough little SOB.

[Ronthetruth]

Had to potential to be a great boxer... Would suggest his passing however is no great loss to humanity

[Crease]

Tony Ayala Jr could have went on to have a great boxing career. In 1981 he was well on his way to fighting for a World Championship, The Ring Magazine rated him as the number 4 Light Middleweight in the world, and the following year the had him as the number 3. Judging it that way, it wouldn't have been too long before he clashed with Tommy Hearns (before The Hitman moved up to MW for the fight with Hagler).

Even if that fight for the WBC Title had not have materialized, I'm convinced that Tony would have accumulated a significant title - maybe he would have been the inaugural IBF Light Middleweight Champion instead of Mark Medal. Or maybe Davey Moore would have given him a shot at his WBA Title.

I have also heard that he and Roberto Duran had a terrible hatred of each other, so I could definitely see that fight happening. Neither man would back down from that.

Either way, Tony was a massive talent wasted and he could have been in those mega fights with the likes of Hearns, Duran, Hagler & maybe even a bout with Leonard depending on how well he did with the others...

But sadly, it's just another story of what might have been.

[Norm]

I remember how he used to spit on fallen opponents. Also the rape he committed was horrifically brutal. He wasn't a wasted talent, he was a waste of humanity.

[handsofstone]

I remember how he used to spit on fallen opponents. Also the rape he committed was horrifically brutal. He wasn't a wasted talent, he was a waste of humanity.

X2

[Seamus]

I can see at least a little tragedy in anyone's death. As for his career, Tony Ayala's potential has taken on mythical proportions in some guy's imaginations.

[SenorPipino]

Got great pleasure seeing him quit on his stool after being pounded, humiliated and battered by a supposedly washed-up Yory Boy Campas on ESPN.

Guy did go to prison for rape back in the 80s, and returned in the 2000s when he broke into a woman's home and was shot for his trouble. Probably had another rape on his mind. Later was arrested for having sex with a 13-year-old but avoided charges when the victim recanted.

Guy was a piece of scum, and deserved an early end. Who cares if he actually was molested as a child. That's an excuse, not a reason.

I'm sure the women of San Antonio are sleeping sounder these days.

[jaclem3]

.....he wouldn't have beaten duran the way he beat women. duran would have taken him apart. he was a much overrated and unproven fighter.

[SenorPipino]

.....he wouldn't have beaten duran the way he beat women. duran would have taken him apart. he was a much overrated and unproven fighter.

[Tomasino]

.....he wouldn't have beaten duran the way he beat women. duran would have taken him apart. he was a much overrated and unproven fighter.

I just watched most of his fights on YouTube. The commentary makes it sound like he was the greatest puncher ever on the rise, some of it was cringeworthy. Ferdie Pacheco was really bad for blowing smoke up his ass.

I don't think he'd have made it at top level, although his left hand was very good.

[Bricks]

So ayala is dead huh?......back in the very late 90$ when outside SKY there was very little boxing and the general quality of boxing superfights etc was waaay down......all i had was eurosport on a tuesday night to watch boxing.....but those were magical days .....they had the heavyweight explosion series and a few house fighters whose every fight theyd screen such as sven ottke.......oddly tony ayala was another whose fights theyd show.so i saw all his comeback and really enjoyed it.for the happiness he gave me there id share a drink with the dog but id probably piss in his pint before giving it to him and realistically thats all you guys should expect from me

[Sittin Sonny]

I remember him being arrested for breaking into a home. I could be wrong. Maybe it was a rape charge.

Both are correct.

He was initially jailed for a rape charge that ended his initial rise toward the top.

Years later, he was re-arrested for an attempted break-in, which cut short his 2nd try at a boxing career IIRC.

[Tomasino]

So ayala is dead huh?......back in the very late 90$ when outside SKY there was very little boxing and the general quality of boxing superfights etc was waaay down......all i had was eurosport on a tuesday night to watch boxing.....but those were magical days .....they had the heavyweight explosion series and a few house fighters whose every fight theyd screen such as sven ottke.......oddly tony ayala was another whose fights theyd show.so i saw all his comeback and really enjoyed it.for the happiness he gave me there id share a drink with the dog but id probably piss in his pint before giving it to him and realistically thats all you guys should expect from me

I'd expect nothing less from an Oxford educated gent

[palooka]

So ayala is dead huh?......back in the very late 90$ when outside SKY there was very little boxing and the general quality of boxing superfights etc was waaay down......all i had was eurosport on a tuesday night to watch boxing.....but those were magical days .....they had the heavyweight explosion series and a few house fighters whose every fight theyd screen such as sven ottke.......oddly tony ayala was another whose fights theyd show.so i saw all his comeback and really enjoyed it.for the happiness he gave me there id share a drink with the dog but id probably piss in his pint before giving it to him and realistically thats all you guys should expect from me

I'd expect nothing less from an Oxford educated gent

His Oxford educated piss probably tastes better than beer.

[Bricks]

[palooka]

[bollox]

Quite a while before he was first locked up his old man paid off a woman that he'd brutalised. He was a total prick and much overrated fighter

[yiddle]

A good fighter no more than that overrated by many but more importantly a shitty human being

[scallum2015]

Who did he beat to make some think he wouldv been great