I can't logically see how Duran would've won. He's a blown-up LW up against a bigger, much stronger version of himself in terms of pitbull-like ferocity. Both guys would be fired up for this one, probably would have to be separated several times before the actual bout. The ultimate bout of Latin machismo. Duran had experience, whereas Tony had youth and hit way harder. Duran will showcase technical abilities early on, until El Torito suffocates him and simply overpowers him. Tony by crushing KO in 5.
Duran all the way.................. The '83 version of Duran was good to go all through the year............ "Cuevas, Moore & Hagler" showed us Duran was capable up at weights between 152 to 157 pounds............. Tony Ayala was just a hyped club-fighter in 1982 while feeding on lesser "B" grade meat on the likes of ESPN, etc.......... Lotsa' promise with lotsa' proving to be done........ MR.BILL
:rofl Duran would outmanouever and eventually outpunch Ayala, who was nothing special even when you take into account how young he was. Terrible thread.
Ayala's hooks to the body wouldn't help him with Duran anymore than Pipino's body attack did. If mediocre puncher Mario Maldonado could drop him, then what's going to happen when El Cholo starts teeing off on El Torito? The bull gets slaughtered in the middle rounds.
Like Ayala was anything but that.?.?.? Wake up Barkley and smell the fresh pot of coffee brewing............. Tony Ayala had 20 friggin' fights over bums, stiffs and ESPN house garbage before going to the cooler for the next 17 yrs.......... 'Robbie Epps' is nothing to get get wet in your pants over......... Ayala was a club-fighter posing as a real contender...... Screw his generous ranking in 1982........ The hell.......... :bbbhat MR.BILL
Yeah I agree with most of you here. Ayala would look good coming into the fight, but in the ring Duran would have weathered any storm and started to land on Ayala and stop him in 7 or so. I see a very similar fight to the Davey Moore fight. Duran in 1983 at 154 was a good enough fighter. not good enough to beat greats like Hearns or Benitez, but Ayala he would have beaten.
i like Tony becuz of his size power and ferocity, his unrelenting attack would have crushed immobile types like Hope, Kalule and pacifistic non lethal types like Benitez. Duran would do better than those schmucks but still lose. I fail to see how Duran who lost to Kirkland Laing could overwhelm someone so much physically stronger like Tony. Duran would get in some good shots but Tony would quickly adapt and start to pick them off on his gloves. once Tony gets warmed up and starts smoking, he will back Duran up and cause him to be much less effective. Eventually, Tony will prevail in brutal fashion. Duran's just too small and tubby Beating Tony on paper is always much easier than it looks
Agree! Ayala had none of the defensive wizardry of Duran. Just watch the Moore fight and see him turn his head at impact and see him counter hard to Davey (RIP) body all night. NO WAY Ayala takes the punishment Moore did. But, Duran proved at old again in '89 what kind of body punches he could take when Barkley teed off on his body. Could you imagine Ayala being hit to the head and body so hard and often by Barkley and still standing? Duran by 5th rd. ko or Ayala quits in a tough fight. BTW, for the Tyson comparers, Tyson never won in a tough fight where he was seriously challenged either. Both guys had no heart for someone w' will and tanacity fighting back.:hat
Duran by prison ****. Would have prepared him nicely for the can. Ayala was in the same boat as Gerald Mclellan (untested potential) with less skills.