Antonio Ayala Jr. (February 13, 1963 – May 12, 2015) was an American boxer who fought in the light middleweight division. He began his professional career in 1980, and by 1982 he had compiled a record of 22 wins and no losses, with 19 knockouts. Ayala had two brothers who were boxers, Mike Ayala and Sammy Ayala.

Early life

Ayala was born in San Antonio, Texas. Tony is the brother of former boxers Mike Ayala, Sammy Ayala and the son of trainer Tony Ayala, Sr.

Professional career

On one occasion, he spit on his opponent after knocking him to the ground. He also admitted to using heroin before a fight on three occasions (his brother Mike Ayala also made allegations of using drugs before his world title fight against Danny Lopez). In the summer of 1981, teenager Ayala was featured in a cover story of Sports Illustrated as a rising star in boxing. Veteran boxing writer Michael Katz claimed he was the best young fighter he had ever seen, Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee said he thought Ayala could have been one of boxing's greatest fighters. On September 16, 1981, he fought on the undercard of the legendary fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.

Rape conviction

After defeating Carlos Herrera at the end of 1982, he was scheduled to fight champion Davey Moore. The fight was not to be. On January 1, 1983, Ayala burglarized the home of his neighbor, a young schoolteacher, and brutally sexually assaulted her. Although he was only 19 years old, Ayala had already been convicted twice of assaults against women. One of these attacks took place in the restroom of a drive in theatre and left the victim with a broken back. He had been given probation for these offenses. Under a repeat offender's law, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The prosecutor at trial argued the young boxer should serve the full term because he was a danger to the community.

Release in 1999

Ayala was paroled from prison in 1999 and resumed his boxing career, winning six high profile fights, all by knockout. An eliminator against hard hitting ex-champ Yori Boy Campas brought an end to his unlikely comeback, a hand injury caused Ayala to quit on his stool after 8 rounds. His troubles with the law continued. In 2000, he was shot in the shoulder by a young woman after breaking into her home. He received probation and a brief jail term for this offense. In 2003, Ayala was charged with having sex with a thirteen-year-old girl, but the charges were dismissed when the girl said she lied about it.

Reincarceration in 2004

In 2004, Ayala was sentenced to ten years in prison for violation of probation, after Ayala was pulled over in his vehicle for speeding, and was also charged with driving without a license, heroin possession, and possession of pornography in his vehicle. Tony Jr. was housed at the private Sanders Estes Unit for lower-level offenders in Venus, Southeast of Fort Worth, where he worked as a janitor.

Release in 2014 and father's funeral

Ayala was released on April 25, 2014. Ayala did not grant any interviews and make any appearances or public statements during his second incarceration.

His father, Tony Ayala Sr., who still owned and operated the Zarzamora Street Gym in San Antonio, died on April 10, 2014. Tony was granted special permission to attend his father's funeral on April 16, 2014, greeting family, friends, and fans, his first public appearance in over a decade. He then returned to custody to serve the remaining nine days of his sentence.

El Torito at Zarzamora Street Gym

Tony Ayala Jr. assisted his brothers, Paulie Ayala, Mike Ayala and Sammy Ayala, in the running of the Zarzamora Street Gym in San Antonio, following his father's death.

Death

Ayala died on May 12, 2015, at his Zarzamora Street Gym in San Antonio, Texas, after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 52.