I don't see how Tony loses this one. Tough as Jose is, he won't survive the stronger Torito's bombs for too long.
I rate both fighters highly and your love for Tony is starting to rival addies love for Winona Lopez has one of the best chins ive ever seen, my thinking is Ayala is to busy and takes the decision. I know Ayala hit hard but Lopez aint going no where:nono. And dont count out a Lopez score a ko either. But im thinking a prime Ayala would hang in there despite going down in this fight. Id say Lopez throws a couple big scares into Ayala but El Torito overcomes this and rages on to a close but Clear decision. 115-112 Ayala
I'll go with Ayala here.... Why? Ayala was a stronger and a solid 154 pounder, while Lopez peaked at 147... Skillwise its close, but I favor a 22 year old Ayala at 154 pounds to maul and halt Lopez.... MR.BILL Note: I'm still looking for tapes of Ayala versus "Campas and Bosante" from 2000 and 2003.... I WANT THEM!! bbb:hat
I have the Campas fight and it's enjoyable seeing a way over the hill Cago to Ayala's body and make him quit. Ayala NEVER FOUGHT a puncher or anyone even really tough. Just like the other Duva fighters of that period, he fought mainly light hitting weak fighters and just like Czyz and Ramos, when they stepped out and lost, Ayala too would have been beat. A classic bully w/out the heart when the going got tough. I have Ayala's career and he really was a piece of **** that made **** up to make himself look good by saying names. In the preview to either the Campas fight of his firts comeback fight, he says that in the early 80s when he was beginning, Em. Steward called down to his dad and said that Hearns would not mention Ayala if Ayala would not mention the Hitman in interviews. What a load of crap. Hearns would have crushed that chinachin in 1! I have the Maldanado fight where he is SERIOUSLY hurt and there is no doubt in my mind that Tommy would have put the Ayala at the end of the jab and then here comes the right and GOODBYE Ayala. Ayala's greatness is really bogus. He had a great left hook, but his comp. was bad. After Maldanado, he would not even fight a halfway puncher like Mario. I take an inshape Duran to make Ayala quit earlier than Campas did and even Davey Moore to pull the upset and win by ko. :smh-Ayala's typical day:hi:
Ayala IS a piece of ****, and he woulda never been great IMO, but I dont put too much stock into the Campas fight. Lets face it, Tony had been locked up for 18 yrs, and at least managed to give an active fighter like Campas a tough fight before wilting. Theres absolutely no doubt that pre-prison Ayala would have battered a guy like Campas. My hunch is Ayala would have stopped Moore late in a WAR, but Duran would have beaten him down. A guy like Tony was tailor made for Manos De Piedra. And yes, theres no doubt that Hearns kills Tony within 3 rounds. Tommy made a career outta destroying Latino midgets, and Tony's fate woulda been no different. Tony would have stood no chance against Leonard, and Hagler either. An interesting fight though would be a young Tony vs a young Vargas. I have a hunch he might have stopped Vargas. There would have been alot of bad blood in that matchup considering both were hot heads, and if Ayala would draw Vargas into a brawl theres a chance he might have stopped him.
Not a fair or accurate post:nono You need to lighten up my friend you take things a little to personal.
Lopez was pretty battle tested. He was probably as good as Ayala who never proved himself to be as good as even Lopez really. Who knows? Ill go with the more proven fighter. Lopez went to war with Page and Quartey. These mental cases like Ayala really cant stand a tough grueling mental fight. He might have just broke down and quit if Lopez hit him hard enough.
I really dont fall for the notion that Ayala had no heart. I think a Young Tony was a bull and as proven by his fight with Maldanado. When he was hurt he just came back stronger and more pist off. I really think you would have had to practically shoot Torito(prime) to keep him down, I think that was probably one of his best strengths. Lopez was a great puncher with an amazing chin and i think he was an underacheiver. He was better than Page and should have beat him but you had to light a fire under his ass most of the time. When he fought Quartey he was thoroughly whupped in the eary and midrounds, but a lot of it had to do with Lopez not doing a damn thing. Once he got motivated he had Quartey on the verge of being kod twice!!!! Both of these guys biggest weakness were themselves.:-(
Yeah I agree, but my point was I dont think Ayala was as proven in fights as Lopez was. He could have been, but it was not proven. Dont you think Quartey is probably the best barometer of this, he was tough and better than anyone Ayala faced. Page was a little better than your giving him credit for, he had decent skills and could punch very hard. You really get a sense for a guys gut when hes forced into a long sustained battle against a better fighter, and I dont think Ayala ever had that.
Oh yeah i totally agree with you that Lopez fought the far better competition you also forgot to include a prime Yori Boy and Aaron Davis. I dont underestimate Page i think he was a pretty good fighter with solid boxing skills and a big punch i remember being ringside when he blew out Alfred Ankamah in 1 round i was very impressed. I was just saying that Lopez could have won that fight had he got motivated. Even though Lopez was more proven i just dont think he would have been active enough against Ayala and would be outworked by the little bull. I do think hed be dangerous though and put a scare or 2 into Ayala.
Lopez preferred puffing weed and going surfing to boxing. Thats what I do now, I like to go surfing minus the weed, its great exercise and very relaxing. Beats the hell out of getting punched in the face!