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Tony Ayala Jr.

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Antonio Ayala Jr. (February 13, 1963 – May 12, 2015) was an American professional boxer who competed in the light middleweight division. He began his professional career in 1980, and by 1982 he had compiled a record of 22 wins and no losses, with 19 knockouts. Ayala was born to a boxing family, and had three brothers who were boxers, Mike Ayala, Paulie Ayala and Sammy Ayala. Tony Ayala is considered one of the most promising boxing wasted talents by boxing writers and historians, as his career cut short after he was imprisoned in 1983, at the age of 19. His first shot at the world title never happened due to his personal troubles and later conviction, while his second shot proved unsuccessful, as he was 40 years old and out-of-shape by that time.

Antonio Ayala Jr.
Born(1963-02-13)February 13, 1963
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 12, 2015(2015-05-12) (aged 52)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Other namesEl Torito
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height5 ft 7.5 in (171 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins31
Wins by KO27
Losses2

Biography

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Early life

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Ayala was born in San Antonio, Texas. Tony is the brother of former boxers Mike Ayala and Sammy Ayala and the son of trainer Tony Ayala, Sr.[1]

Amateur career

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Many have said Ayala was a boxing prodigy, he first fought at the age of five, at the age of six he avenged his first defeat. At the age of eight, he was rumored to suffer his last loss. At fourteen, he was battering a world champion around the ring. At 15, he knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard's older brother, Roger Leonard.[2] At that point, his achievements was a bit overshadowed by his older brother Mike, who turned pro in 1975, and by the early 1980 was the number one ranked super bantamweight fighter in the world, so Tony was dubbed simply the "other fighting Ayala."[3]

Highlights

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  National Golden Gloves (165 lbs), Indianapolis, Indiana, March 1979:

  • 1/2: Defeated Vaughn Hooks PTS
  • Finals: Defeated Lamont Kirkland PTS

  National Sports Festival (165 lbs), Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 1979:

  • Finals: Defeated Alex Ramon PTS

Ayala won National Junior Olympic titles in 1977 and 1978 as well as a National Golden Gloves championship in 1979, compiling an amateur record of 140–8 with sixty knockouts. He was one of Olympic hopefuls for the 1980 Summer Olympics,[4] but turned pro instead of qualifying at the National Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Georgia (as Ayala withdrew, Charles Carter qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in the middleweight class, but the U.S. participation was canceled soon thereafter due to the boycott).

Professional career

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Ayala turned professional in June 1980 with a one-round knockout of Zip Castillo and proceeded to score three other first round knock outs in a row. He was co-managed by the Duva family, namely by Lou Duva, Dan Duva, and Kathy Duva. By December 1981 Ayala, the 18-year-old, was rated No. 3 by the World Boxing Association.[5]

The young boxer was known as a savage brawler who was often considered a "dirty" fighter; for example, 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 Ayala 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 16, 1981, Ayala fought on the undercard of the legendary fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.

Personal troubles

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By summer 1982 Ayala split with and got back with his 18-year-old wife Lisa, they were living in New Jersey, not far from the Duvas. Twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, he attended meetings of the local Alcoholics Anonymous. On Wednesdays, he drove to New York to attend meetings at the Freedom Institute. On November 19, 1982, Ayala was scheduled to meet Roberto Durán, the former lightweight and welterweight champion, in a 12-round junior middleweight bout co-promoted by Dan Duva and Don King, scheduled to be shown in prime time by NBC.[6][7] During August–September 1982 he took a monthly course in a clinic, Care Unit Hospital in Orange, California, as part of a plea deal for one of his earlier attacks. Though he was allowed to leave for training purposes. The rehabilitation program kept him from having a $750,000 payday against Roberto Duran. When the Duran fight didn't happen, Ayala settled for about $150,000 to fight Argentinian Carlos Herrera. 'It doesn't bother me,' he said. 'I'm looking at it as a step closer to the world title. Davey Moore is going to have to meet me after this fight.'[8]

Rape conviction

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After defeating Carlos Herrera, November 20, 1982, he was scheduled to fight champion Davey Moore. Ayala was to have one last "tune up" bout on January 26, 1983 when he was scheduled to fight journeyman Leslie "Sweet Lemonade" Gardner at the Ice World Arena in Totowa, New Jersey.[9] By December 1982, Ayala was already a second-ranked junior middleweight in the world.[8]

The fight was not to be. On January 1, 1983, Ayala burglarized the home of his neighbor, a young schoolteacher, and brutally sexually assaulted her.[10] Although he was only 19 years old, Ayala had already been convicted twice of assaults against women. One of these attacks took place in the restroom of a drive-in theatre and left the victim with a broken back. He had been given probation for these offenses.[11] 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.[12]

Ayala Jr served his sentence term at Rahway State Prison and Trenton State Prison and released in 1999.

Release in 1999

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Ayala was paroled from prison in 1999 and resumed his boxing career,[13] winning six high-profile fights, all by knockout. Ayala was still popular in his hometown. An eliminator against hard hitting ex-champ Yori Boy Campas brought an end to his unlikely comeback, a hand injury caused Ayala to quit on his stool after 8 rounds. His troubles with the law continued. In 2000, he was shot in the shoulder by a young woman after breaking into her home. At Ayala's trial the prosecution pointed out this was almost an exact replay of Ayala's 1983 offense. 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.

Reincarceration in 2004

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In 2004, Ayala was sentenced to ten years in prison for violation of probation after he was pulled over in his vehicle for speeding, and was also charged with driving without a license, heroin possession and possession of pornography in his vehicle. Tony Jr. was housed at the private Sanders Estes Unit for lower-level offenders in Venus, Southeast of Fort Worth, where he worked as a janitor. He was also housed at the Robertson unit in Abilene Texas a maximum security prison.

Release in 2014 and father's funeral

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Ayala was released on April 25, 2014. He did not grant any interviews or make any appearances or public statements during his second incarceration.

His father, Tony Ayala Sr., who still owned and operated the Zarzamora Street Gym in San Antonio, died on April 10, 2014. Tony was granted special permission to attend his father's funeral on April 16, 2014, greeting family, friends, and fans, his first public appearance in over a decade. He then returned to custody to serve the remaining nine days of his sentence. [14] [15]

El Torito at Zarzamora Street Gym

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Tony Ayala Jr. assisted his brothers, Mike Ayala and Sammy Ayala, in the running of the Zarzamora Street Gym in San Antonio, following his father's death.[16]

Death

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Ayala died on May 12, 2015, age 52, from an apparent overdose at Zarzamora Street Gym, San Antonio, Texas. It has been reported in the media that drug paraphernalia was found near his body.[17]

Professional boxing record

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33 fights 31 wins 2 losses
By knockout 27 2
By decision 4 0
No. Result Record Opponent Opp
record 		Type Round, time Date Location Notes
33 Loss 31–2   Anthony Bonsante 22–3–3 TKO 11 (12), 1:32 25 Apr 2003   Thunderbird Wild West Casino, Norman, Oklahoma, USA for vacant IBA Super Middleweight Title
32 Win 31–1   Lee Fortune 25–20–2 KO 5 (10), 2:10 6 Sep 2002   Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
31 Win 30–1   Urbano Gurrola 18–8–0 KO 2 (10), 2:52 3 May 2002   Randy's Ballroom, San Antonio, Texas, USA
30 Win 29–1   Manuel Lopez 22–2–0 TKO 2 (10), 1:10 9 Nov 2001   Sunset Station, San Antonio, Texas, USA
29 Win 28–1   Santos Cardona 39–9–0 UD 10 (10) 31 Jul 2001   Sunset Station, San Antonio, Texas, USA 96–92, 98–90, 95–93
28 Loss 27–1   Luis Ramon Campas 74–4–0 RTD 8 (10) 28 Jul 2000   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA Ayala not out for 9th
27 Win 27–0   Gerald Coleman 16–14–0 KO 2 (10), 1:50 19 May 2000   Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
26 Win 26–0   Jorge Luis Vado 16–7–1 KO 4 (10), 0:50 14 Apr 2000   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
25 Win 25–0   Tony Menefee 69–6–1 TKO 8 (10), 1:21 11 Dec 1999   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
24 Win 24–0   Robert Koon 18–6–1 TKO 4 (10), 1:54 24 Sep 1999   Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
23 Win 23–0   Manuel Esparza 19–5–1 TKO 3 (10), 2:53 20 Aug 1999   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Served a prison term.
Canc. 22–0   Davey Moore 11–0–0 NR 0 (12) 29 Jan 1983   Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA for WBA World Super Welterweight Title
22 Win 22–0   Carlos Herrera 47–6–0 KO 3 (10), 2:34 20 Nov 1982   Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA WBA World Super Welterweight Title eliminator
Took a mandatory rehabilitation course in a clinic.
Canc. 21–0   Roberto Durán 74–4 NR 0 (12) 19 Nov 1982   USA WBA World Super Welterweight Title eliminator
21 Win 21–0   Robbie Epps 30–2–0 TKO 1 (10), 1:32 1 Aug 1982   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
20 Win 20–0   Curtis Ramsey 21–11–5 UD 10 (10) 26 Jun 1982   Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
19 Win 19–0   Steve Gregory 26–2–2 TKO 3 (10), 2:02 2 May 1982   Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, USA
18 Win 18–0   Dario De Asa 8–8–0 KO 2 (10) 10 Apr 1982   Astro Arena, Houston, Texas, USA
17 Win 17–0   Nat King 26–18–1 KO 4 (10), 2:59 26 Feb 1982   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA
16 Win 16–0   James Waire 17–9–1 TKO 7 (10) 15 Jan 1982   Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
15 Win 15–0   J.J. Cottrell 22–10–3 TKO 8 (10) 10 Dec 1981   Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, USA
14 Win 14–0   Jose Baquedano 30–7–1 KO 1 (10), 1:09 16 Sep 1981   Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
13 Win 13–0   Nicanor Camacho 8–0–1 UD 10 (10) 23 Aug 1981   Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USA 100–91, 100–93, 100–93
12 Win 12–0   Jerry Cheatham 31–5–2 TKO 6 (10), 1:44 25 Jun 1981   Astrodome, Houston, Texas, USA
11 Win 11–0   Pat Hallacy 27–6–1 KO 4 (10) 23 May 1981   San Remo, Liguria, Italy
10 Win 10–0   Agapito Ramirez 11–12–1 TKO 3 (8) 25 Apr 1981   Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
9 Win 9–0   Mario Maldonado 11–7–1 KO 3 (8), 2:57 28 Mar 1981   Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York, USA
8 Win 8–0   Jose Luis Baltazar 30–29–2 TKO 2 (10), 2:59 16 Jan 1981   HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, USA
7 Win 7–0   Earl Liburd 11–8–1 KO 1 (8) 20 Dec 1980   Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx, New York, USA
6 Win 6–0   Lester Groves 5–4–2 KO 2 (10), 0:59 20 Nov 1980   Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, USA
5 Win 5–0   Mike Baker 35–14–1 UD 8 (8) 1 Nov 1980   Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, USA 80–72, 80–72, 80–72
4 Win 4–0   Archie Andrews 11–12–0 KO 1 (10) 18 Sep 1980   Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, USA
3 Win 3–0   Manuel Torres 3–11–1 KO 1 (10) 28 Jul 1980   Memorial Civic Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
2 Win 2–0   German Marquez 2–4–0 KO 1 (8), 2:25 15 Jul 1980   Royal Palace Ballroom, San Antonio, Texas, USA
1 Win 1–0   Zip Castillo 23–16–1 KO 1 (8), 2:25 17 Jun 1980   Royal Palace Ballroom, San Antonio, Texas, USA

References

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  1. ^ "Fight dreams born at gym in San Antonio - boxing - ESPN". ESPN. 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  2. ^ Katz, Michael (December 21, 1980). "Ayala, Veteran at 17, Wins by a Knockout". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  3. ^ Garcia, Ignacio (April 1981). "Tony Ayala Jr.: Bulling His Way To The Top". NBR. 5 (3): 51. ISSN 0147-3247.
  4. ^ Amdur, Neil (August 13, 1979). "U.S. Athletes Look to Moscow: Optimism but Apprehension". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  5. ^ McGowen, Deane (December 11, 1981). "Ayala Stops Cottrell in 8th". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  6. ^ "Sports People; Contract Confusion". The New York Times. August 3, 1982. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  7. ^ Katz, Michael (August 23, 1982). "A Troubled Ayala Will Enter Clinic For Emotional Help". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  8. ^ a b Katz, Michael (October 27, 1982). "Ayala Is Winning His Toughest Bout". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  9. ^ "An Interview With Tony Ayala Jr - By Thomas Gerbasi". Cyberboxingzone.com. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  10. ^ "Boxer Tony Ayala Jr., 41, was jailed for violating the... - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2004-07-09. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  11. ^ "ESPN.com: BOXING - Ayala faces what could be his last bout". A.espncdn.com. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  12. ^ "Tony Ayala, Jr. Arrested - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  13. ^ "CNN/SI - Boxing - Ayala seeks rematch with life - Monday August 23, 1999 07:42 PM". Cgi.cnnsi.com. 1999-08-23. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  14. ^ "Tony Ayala Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison!". Eastsideboxing.com. 2004-07-29. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  15. ^ "Ayala ponders future after son again denied parole". 4 November 2012.
  16. ^ "'Torito' following in father's footsteps at Zarzamora Street Gym". 9 May 2014.
  17. ^ "S.A. boxer Tony Ayala Jr. dies at 52". Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
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