Julian Jackson of 1989 who knocked out Norris vs. Tony Ayala of 1983 who was going to get the title shot with Davey Moore. Does Ayala have a chance?
I certainly think Ayala with all his power has a good chance in this one as he does in any bout he's involved in. However, I also think Julian Jackson is one of the FEW guys I can see beating Tony. Julian may not have had the overall talent Tony Ayala had, but did have crushing power similar to Torito's. I can see a situation in which Tony backs him up and then Julian connects for a KO. The ONLY guy who possibly dominates a prime Tony IMO.
Tony had the goods. He was going to fight Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran had his career gone on. Would have been interesting. Tony had a chance to win this fight with Jackson if he got to Julian early enough, but like all of Jackson's fights, he would have to get him before Jackson lands that perfect punch. So either Tony by 3 round knockout or Jackson by 5th.
Tony ayala wins by brutal ko. Punched just as hard, better chin, better skills, better defense. Jackson was a tremendous puncher but was sorely lacking defensively.
Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it, too. Tony's best chance would be get him out as quickly as possible.
Ayala was a joke. He was never in the class of Hagler and Hearns and Duran and Leonard. He never accomplished anything. For that matter Ayala was never in the class of Pat Lawlor. Julian Jackson was a legit puncher and champion with loads of experience. He knocks Ayala out for the count in round 2. I would say round one, but I will give Ayala the benefit of the doubt. Round 2 knockout for Jackson. Jackson too strong and hits too hard for a guy like Ayala who is not in the class of Jackson.
A prime Ayala was only in a couple of fights where he had to deal with some troublesome foes. In his career, he was in one war - the fight with Yori Boy. Faced with real adversity, he quit. Combine that with his alcoholism and his sex crimes, I say that he was mentally too weak for a warrior like Jackson. Jackson KO3
Everyone knows my main man is Norris so i hold Jackson in very high regard. I believe people are underestimating Tony however and that's a mistake. They look at him and see some fat mexican bully believing that he trains on tacos and chicharrones. I can tell you that is not fat but rather muscle. So long as Tony keeps the fight in close, the fight is his. Of course he'd have the best trainer in the business with Duva and Bention. These people know the weakness of the oppostion and exploit it with spectacular success. Not only that, but we had yet to see the best of Tony Ayala Jr, which is downright frightening. I see Tony fighting a strict fight plan laid out for him by his trainers both on offense and defense - fighting his fight and crowding him, while slipping under the telegraphed blows of Jackson. Tony is very powerful so it is only a matter of time before Jackson weakens to the point he cannot rebound. Jackson could not hope to last into the late rounds-not the way I've seen Tony hit. The way Tony hits people, so relentless it just takes the life out of them At some point, Jackson's tolerance is going to give out, yielding to powers that know no equal. I see Julian caving in under a frightening barrage somewhere between the 5th and the 9th rounds
Ayala had a chance because he was a fighter who could come back from being hurt all through his amatuer and professional career. I seen him get off the floor to win on numerous occasions. Ayala also had power and could match Jackson in the skill dept. Could Jackson freeze him.....Yes....Could Ayala overcome and get Jackson in trouble....Yes......this would have been a shootout
That's why it's tough to pick a winner, I could envision either one of them scoring a KO. They both had that kind of power.