Rodolfo Martinez vs. Mike Ayala

Mike Ayala 121 lbs lost to Rodolfo Martinez 121 lbs by TKO at 2:53 in round 7 of 12

• Date: 1977-05-17
• Location: Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, USA
• Referee: Norman Stein

"Mike Ayala faced a long, uphill climb back to the top as San Antonio still buzzed over his 7th round TKO loss to Mexico's Rodolfo Martinez Tuesday night at Municipal Auditorium. Martinez, fighting an orthodox style, was ahead from the start with a snapping left jab to the head, often followed by a swift hook to the head or body. To fight's end, Martinez alternated between the two styles and held the upper hand either way, although it wasn't until the 6th that he finally got Ayala off his feet. It was a hard left to the midsection that paralyzed the kid and had him on the canvas until the nine count. Then he hit the floor again from a couple of shots to the head, but was up at three. Martinez answered the bell for the 7th lefty style, then shifted again and continued the beating only to see Ayala take it all and stage a flurry of his own. But the finish was near. Seconds later Martinez buckled Ayala's knees with a smash to the jaw and soon referee Norman Stein stepped in to halt the action." -San Antonio Light

• Attendance - 4,516
• Gate - $28,859 (record gate for the Auditorium)

Post fight comments

• "I've known this kid since he started boxing and, believe me, this was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. But Mike had almost gone down a few seconds earlier and when I stepped between them he had stopped punching and couldn't get out of the way of any of Martinez' punches." -Referee Norman Stein, explaining the stoppage.

• "Mike didn't have anything left and it was the right thing to do. But don't worry, he's young and he will make it back if he wants it bad enough." -Tony Ayala, Sr., Ayala's father and manager.