Tony Ayala vs. Animal Fletcher

As much as I despise Ayala, Fletcher would have no chance against him. Fletcher was a wide open, toe to toe brawler whose style was made to order for Ayala, who had excellent power and fundamental skils. He reminds me of mike tyson in that he was a thinking beast. They didn't just throw caution to the wind but there was a method to their madness. Their mode of attack was both calculating and brutal.

 

I'm not sure about that.

Ayala sure held those hands low. And he threw wide punches. They had speed and snap on them, but it was always wide hooks and long uppercuts. I never cared much for his footwork and think he'd have problems with a southpaw slugger like Fletcher. Ayala's left hand was cradled at his waist and I think he's wide open for the kinds of punches the animal threw.

Tony has to work more for his openings and I see that low hands thing being a big problem against this caliber and style of opponent. He's right there to be countered and nobody had to tell Fletcher to throw. He was one of those tough middles on the scene that would fire back in a millisecond after eating a big shot. I think that is a big factor in this fight with Ayala getting tagged clean.

The other big thing in this match I like with Fletcher is/was that upper body movement of his. He really did a lot of it early in his career, although it was predictable. I could see Ayala missing his punches on the outside against this guy and were not talking jabs here. And Ayala getting clipped after missing and then doing something he can't afford to do--back up.

Actually the fight might boil down to that anyway. The guy that backs up is going to get hit with a big punch and lose. I sure would've liked to have seen it at the Blue Horizon and the crowd would've been nuts.

 

I was at ALL "The Animal"'s fights from 80-83 and the man put a hurting on fighters. Most he beat took a severe beating to the body and the head. They were never the same after fighting Frank. He could take a good shot and he could crack. All the WARS, and that's what ALL his fights were, wore him down and took everything from him, but at his best from 80-the Green fight, Fletcher kicked the **** out of guys. He would have no fear of Ayala and would be in his face from the off. And you are right, Fletcher was great at getting hit and firing right back. "The Animal" would take Ayala's heart in a fight like this and prevail by either a brutal TKO or by Tony quitting on his stool and claiming an injury.:cheersdrink:beer:beer:ko

 

And that's the crucial point in this match; firing back in a millisecond. The guys that cover up or pause are in big trouble with those Ayala punches and brutal combos of his. But Frank was a guy like say, Barkley--he'd eat what the other guy threw and fire back immediately. And I see a big window there especially considering the Ayala hand placement. He brought them back low after punching even.


I also think Tony might have trouble solving the southpaw style and that funky upper body movement of the Animal. He did a good job with that rolling his shoulders while moving his legs and walking the other guy down. Once in range, nobody ever had to remind Fletcher to throw punches either. those 2 factors can turn things easily into big trouble early--Ayala has no bag of tricks to turn to. That would help his chances against this guy.