Depends. Is this the sober Pre-Hopkins Pavlik or the drunk Post-Hopkins Pavlik? And is this the Pre-Prison Ayala or the Post-Prison Ayala? Pre-Prison Ayala vs. Pre-Hopkins Pavlik is a brutal FOTY that is over before the 7th round, I think. I think both men are knocked down, too. Taylor had Pavlik down and badly hurt, and I think most people would say Ayala hits a hell of a lot harder than Taylor does. Pre-Prison Ayala destroys the drunk Pavlik, but the sober Pavlik destroys Post-Prison Ayala just as emphatically. If both men are at their best, it's a tough fight to call, but I lean a little towards Pavlik because of his natural size advantage (he was a huge middleweight, while Ayala fought mostly at 154 before getting imprisoned.)
Pavlik beats the **** outta Ayala. Kelly at 6'2, really a natural supermiddle vs Tony who was a midget junior middle at 5'7. Add to that Pavlik's jab, power, and the fact that he's WAY more tested. I think Ayala would eventually go out like Zertuche.
the pre prison ayala is the best prospect ive ever seen but unfortunatly he was just that a prospect never seen him fight at the elite level so based on that i have to choose pavlik. the stories of a 14 year old ayala handling the then ww champ cuevas are awesome but never the less we didnt see enough of him
Yeah, I'm actually going to go with the guy who did anything of any note at all that didn't pertain to sex crimes. Kelly by knockout, although admittedly I'm assuming it will be brutal warfare first. But, sorry, I'm not taking a prospect over a solid champion because he looked the part.
Pretty good fight. I think this goes somewhat like Tony's Golden Gloves Championship bout in 1979. Pavlik will have the size and reach advantage and score a knockdown. Then Tony will come roaring out with fierce but controlled assault, dishing out a severe body assault . This will be a war to remember. I like El Torito by late rounds KO, as Pavlik succumbs to severely bruised ribs.
Another vote for Kelly. I don't think Ayala has the footwork to close that size differential here and is outboxed on the outside too much. Pavlik is mobile enough to avoid the exchanges and that's the thing Ayala is simply going to have to do to win.
Tony has a chance early ,but his style is a style which Pavlik loves. Getting guys to brawl and then landing a big punch. And he is big enough to have good leverage. Tony would have a chance early.
