Tony Ayala vs. Animal Fletcher

The Beast was also wild and prone to getting caught himself. Outside of the Hagler fight his chih wasnt all that, i dont know if Hagler ruined it, but i know Green had him on ***** street. And although Green can bang. Ayala hit harder and had better combos to follow up. Wouldnt suprise me though if Mugabi came up with the ko, with 2 gunsligners you never know.??.

 

True but Roldan didnt like heat coming back his way either. But id probably favor him over a young Tony Ayala,, He was also a big Mw and that wastn Ayalas weight, in time Ayala would have definitely been the better fighter and i think Ayalas ferocity is being underrated.

 

Dude's,

I just don't know. "Green, Mugabi and Fletcher" fought better comp all the way to the max compared to what Ayala ever faced... Just saying...

MR.BILL:hat

 

Robbie Epps was underrated he also was coming off a win over #1 ranked Dwight Davison.. Also Ayala blew out Carlos Herrera in 3 rouns,who went the distance with Hope and gave him a tough fight.

 

Wasn't Herrera the # 1 contender when Ayala tore him apart?

 

How the hell did Epps manage to beat Davidson?:huh:shock:

MR.BILL:hat

 

When did Frank fight at 154.....But having said that, Tony moving up to 160 seems more realistic and I imagine this to happen in the late 82 early 83 range, about the time of Fletcher vs Scypion. At the time I was picking Fletcher over Scypion (So whatever prediction I make you should note that I am extremely falible), and imagine for all of Ayala's hype that I would have picked Frank (and certainly been rooting for the Philly Boy)...

In hind sight the Ayala of the time, provided he makes the move to 160 smoothly and I have no reason to indicate he would not, should be the favortie in this match-up. I think Ayala is more skilled than Frank and should be able to beat him. I don't know if he can out box him the way Scypion did, or stop him as early as Roldan. I think Frank would have some moments in this fight, and would be competitive and entertaining but slightly behind on the cards. from rds 9 on I think Tony should be able to stop him (If he carries his power up to the next weight class)...so a 117-111 type decision or late stoppage for Tony.

Tony is an enigma, lots of hype, but never getting the chance to show if he was for real or just propaganda. I don't think he would have lived up to the hype and if this scenerio was to unfold, after Fletcher I think he would have his hands full w/ Roldan in a fight for a shot at Hagler, and believe he would certainly have fallen short in that bid.

 

He had an excellent jab and knew how to use his reach... An old pug i used to know Hank Livingstone(under frank on box rec) said he had hell fighting Epps and said he could hit you from across the living room with his jab.,,,, Ayala just walked him down and never gave him the chance to get started.

 

FINALLY an ayala match up he can win. fletcher was tough but limited. tony takes him apart after an uncomfortable first 6 rounds

 

Animal almost got a title shot as you know but for some reason took on Scypion when he didnt have to. Animal seemed tame in that fight and was never the same fierce competitor after the Green fight

I believe a young upcoming Animal Fletcher would rip up the beast. He just had so much fight in him

Taking on Roldan tho might be too much for him

and Tony was one of the hardest hitting middleweights I seen. Most people think he is just fat like a Willie Pastrano type but that is really muscle around his waist. Tony is also fierce just like Fletcher. In my opinion, Fletcher gets tagged too much and might get stopped

 

The marketing for the fight:

Frank "The *******" Fletcher vs Tony "The ******" Ayala

 

My feelings exactly.Dwight should have fought Hagler.

 

Nearly 30 years of hindsight says pick'em, but at the time I may of ended up homeless as I would of stuck the mortgage on Ayala.

 

The hate for Ayala as a person is understandable, but not logical in assessing his realistic skills. If you'd have asked me about this matchup in 1980, as a fifteen year old, I would have pictured wide punching, easy-to-hit Fletcher, without KO power, getting brutalized by Ayala. The years since have done nothing to change that picture. I always saw Animal as an overblown ESPN guy with light hands, bad defense, who won a lot of rounds on energy and Ayala as a likely HOF'er. Three, four rounds tops, I think. And, no, I'm no Tony Ayala fan and never was.

 

that's what I think as well. Tony had the guns. Most people here don't even realize it! all they see is the ****** that got what he deserved

Personally I would LIKE to see my man Fletcher, a top middleweight at the time, terrorize Tony with an unrelenting assault the way he did Green. I just dont think it would happen that way becuz when he came forward, TA would meet him head on. Frank's style is wrong for this matchup