Tony Ayala, Jr.

Infobox_Boxer


name = Antonio Ayala Jr.
nationality = American
nickname = El Torito
weight = Middleweight
birth_date = Birth date and age|1963|2|13|mf=y
birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
style = Orthodox
total = 33
wins = 31
KO = 27
losses = 2
draws = 0

Tony Ayala, born 13 February 1963, is a former junior middleweight boxer. He began his professional career in 1980, and by 1982 he had compiled a record of 22 wins and no losses, with 19 knockouts. His tough and aggressive fighting style with world class power especially in his left hook earned him the nickname "El Torito," the "Baby Bull."

On one occasion, he spit on his opponent after knocking him to the ground. He also admitted to using heroin before a fight on three occasions (his brother Mike also made allegations of using drugs before his world title fight against Danny Lopez).

In the summer of 1981, teenager Ayala was featured in a cover story of Sports Illustrated as a rising star in boxing. Veteran boxing writer Michael Katz claimed he was the best young fighter he had ever seen, Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee said he thought Ayala could have been one of boxing's greatest fighters.

On September 14, 1981, he fought on the undercard of the legendary fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. After defeating Carlos Herrera at the end of 1982, he was scheduled to fight champion Davey Moore.

Rape conviction

The fight was not to be. On January 1, 1983, Ayala burglarized the home of his neighbour, a young schoolteacher, and brutally sexually assaulted her. Although he was only 19 years old, Ayala had already been convicted twice of assaults against women. He had been given probation for these offenses. Under a repeat offender's law, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The prosecutor at trial argued the young boxer should serve the full term because he was a danger to the community.

Release 16 years later

Ayala was paroled from prison in 1999 and resumed his boxing career, winning six fights and losing two, the first to Yori Boy Campas.

However, his troubles with the law continued. In 2000, he was shot in the shoulder by a young woman after breaking into her home. He received probation and a brief jail term for this offense. In 2003, Ayala was charged with having sex with a thirteen year old girl, but the charges were dismissed when the girl said she lied about it. Finally, in 2004 Ayala was sentenced to ten years in prison for repeated probation violations [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1539&more=1] .

Ayala's early record 1980Zip Castillo-KO 1German Marquez-KO 1Manuel Torres-KO 1Archie Andrews-KO 1Mike Baker-W 8Lester Groves-KO 2Earl Liburd-KO 1

1981Jose Luis Baltazar-KO 2Mario Maldonado-KO 3Agapito Ramirez-KO 3Pat Hallacy-KO 4Jerry Cheatam-KO 6Nicanor Camacho-W 10Jose Baquedano Rendiz-KO 1J. J. Cottrell-KO 8

1982James Waire-KO 7Nat King-KO 4Dario De Asa-KO 2Steve Gregory-KO 3Curtis Ramsey-W 10Robbie Epps-KO 1Carlos Herrera-KO 3

External links

* " [http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=15471 Tony Ayala's Career Record] "

"Tony Ayala Jr.: The Best Prospect of All-Time", by Greg Smith
* http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/2228/tony-ayala-best-prospect-all-time/