Tony Ayala 'I Never Sparred With Pipino Cuevas'

Tony Ayala,

'It was a complete fabrication by my father. We were trying to sign a
deal with NBC Televsion, and Lou Duva tried to help us get more money.'

'Lou Duva had come up with an idea of getting me some attention, besides
my amateur background. He came up with an idea, that I sparred with
WBA Welterweight Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas when he was here
in San Antonio. He suggested, that I beat up Pipino, and they had to
pull me off him.'

'My father said yes to the idea. And he said that we can make up a story
that Pipino couldn't find any sparring partners to get in the ring with him,
and only me (14 1/2 years-old) was the only boxer willing to get in the ring
with Pipino.'

'But I asked, but what about pictures of me sparring with him. Lou Duva said
don't worry about it, nobody will ask for anything. Those guys at NBC believe
anything I tell them.'

 

Mr. Flea -

Here is some of the story.

Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas had ventured up to San Antonio, Texas in May 1977 -
not to spar, but as an invited guest to watch his Mexican-compatriot Rodolfo Martinez
(the former WBC Bantamweight Champion) take on San Antonio's Mike Ayala in
a 10-Round Super-Bantamweight bout.

The bout was held on Tuesday Night - May 17, 1977 at the Municipal Auditorium.

What happened, was that Pipino visited Rodolfo Martinez while he was in San Antonio,
and watched his final work-out session on Monday - May 16th, at the San Fernando Gym
before the Tuesday Night bout.

Tony Ayala Sr. was the boxing coordinator of the Training Center/Boxing Gym. Little Tony
had been working out there, in preperation for his upcoming June 1977 Tournament at
the National Junior Olympics in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Now, Tony Ayala Jr. was a very good fighter, but the only thing he had won was a
1977 Junior Tournament, at Welterweight.

Supposedly, Pipino did watch Tony Ayala Jr. spar a few rounds, but he never got in
the ring with 14 1/2 year-old.

 

The Galveston Daily News,

Followed up on this supposed story,,,,,,

Nobody could be found, who saw Pipino Cuevas in the ring with Tony Ayala Jr.
other than Tony Ayala Sr. and Lou Duva.

Even Joseph Souza, who was the Director of Parks and Recreations of San Antonio,
and the cornerman of Tony Ayala Jr. said,

'I never saw Pipino at the San Fernando Gym, but was told by Tony Ayala Sr., that
Pipino was there, and Tony Jr. was doing a number on him, and that the session was
called off after 2 rounds.'

 

David McKenna,

News Sports Writer for the Galveston Daily News.

He 'never' believed the fabrication either, so he tried to find out if
anyone had witnessed this sparring session in San Antonio at the
San Fernando Gym.

No film, no photo's, no witnesses.