At 154. Good match up of two scrappy, tough fighters. Ayala wouldn't be able to blow away the tough Muniz early & would be in for a long hard fight. 12 Rounds.
But he would. Mando is a smaller guy than Tony and while he was tough, he wasn't unbeatable. Vicious young Ayala was virtually unbeatable, at Jr. MW and possibly MW too. When Tony backs Muniz into the ropes and starts unloading, it won't last too long. I hope not, for Mando's sake.
If Ayala had more to his arsenal than slugging he may have a chance. However, he did not. He had one way of fighting, straight in winging punches. This was Muniz territory. Mando had a rock jaw and Tony did not and nobody, I mean nobody ever went toe to toe with Muniz and didn't end up on the seat of their pants. Muniz KO 7. Scartissue
Ayala would definately come out storming, throwing lots of punches. But when he see's Muniz has weathered the storm. Tony will have to change tactics and find another way to win the fight or hang on for a points win. In the second half of the fight is where Ayala will have to dig down deep to hold on. Mando will bring the pressure on late. In four fights Muniz came within a whisker of winning the Welterweight Championship against both Napoles & Palomino. IMO he would edge out Ayala by the thinnest of margins.
I don't think Mando could keep up with Ayala. Tony's attack was seriously too fast and relentless. Besides the signature left hook, the brutal body assault alone would've been too much for Muniz.
Yes Ayala was fast & relentless, In spurts. He also was a little pudgy around the middle. if his opponents didn't fall as a tough chinned fighter like Muniz. Then Ayala would have to go into the late rounds. There he would be truly tested.
Ayala wouldn't have to worry about Mando's chin. Tony just has to pound his body. I don't think Muniz could keep him off. Tony would be too big and strong for him.
Don't forget this is a P4P match, otherwise a welterweight would not be paired against a jr middle/middle, so size is irrelevent. Muniz had problems with boxers not punchers and nobody hurt him to the body. Not big bangers like Oscar Albarado, Ernie Lopez nor Jose Napoles and Ayala would be no different. Muniz was an outstanding infighter against the best of the day. Ayala only had decent wins over Robbie Epps and Carlos Herrera, that's it. It would be a wild fight if these two locked horns, and it would be interesting to see how Ayala would react when he got dropped or felt himself retreating. Would he quit on his stool, sobbing like he did against Campas or go out the way I feel he would, flat on his back. Scartissue
Ayala would be different. He hit a lot harder than any guy Muniz ever faced. That and Tony's relentless attack. Mando was as tough as nails, but go down he would.
laxpdx, you have nothing to support this claim other than fandom, or did I misinterpret your avatar? Muniz fought the best in a talented era, Ayala possibly could have but was up the river before his career really got going. I'm left with the image of clubfighter Mario Maldonado dropping Ayala like a sack of rocks, like that would have happened to Muniz. Tony could bang, but I don't believe he has the chin or heart to tangle with Muniz and survive. Incidentally, I also believe Albarado, Lopez and Napoles would have taken Ayala with the same shots they landed on Muniz. He was just too unproven, but a wonderful prospect. Scartissue
If Ayala could manhandle the feared Cuevas as a mere child, he'd more than handle Muniz and those others as a prime, hungry Jr. MW. Tony was knocked down by Maldonado and look at the price Mario paid for it. He was brutalized so badly he wanted to quit. All these guys being naturally smaller than Tony and not invincible, I just don't see them being able to handle the little bull's pressure for too long. Not at Jr. MW.
Again, this is a P4P match, otherwise the match would never have been made, so forget size difference. Apples to apples Ayala does not have the experience, chin or heart to stand with Muniz, Albarado, Lopez and certainly not Jose Napoles. If you wish to give him physical advantages, then I'm sure we can find a schoolyard looking for a bully. Scartissue
