Paulie Ayala
Encyclopedia
Paul Anthony Ayala is a Mexican-American former boxer and two time world champion. Ayala is a born-again Christian
, and he professed so by thanking God for his success after virtually every fight. Ayala was promoted by Bob Arum
.
. Magana himself was knocked out in the fourth round by Ayala. In 1994, he won all four of his bouts, including one over veteran Lee Cargle. Cargle was beaten by Ayala with a knockout in round three. 1995 was a productive year for the young fighter. He won all five of his fights, including his first championship bout: He beat Mike Espinoza by knockout in three at Ft. Worth to claim the NABF Bantamweight title. He also defended that title twice before the end of the year, beating Mario Diaz
and Sergio Millan, both by decision in 12 rounds. In 1996, he only had two fights, both of them successful defenses of his regional belt: He knocked out Roland Gomez in seven rounds, and defeated Ivan Alvarez by decision in twelve.
He began 1997 by defeating Famosito Gomez by decision in twelve, once again retaining his belt. He won three more bouts that year, including a five round knockout over Roberto Lopez to retain the regional belt. At the beginning of 1998, Ayala was already very close to a world championship bout. After winning two more bouts, he received his first chance at becoming world champion, when with the famous Kickboxer Fabio Martella he travelled to Japan to challenge the WBC
bantamweight champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
on August 23. Ayala lost the fight by a 6th round technical decision when the fight was stopped due to a cut. Tatsuyoshi dominated the opening rounds, however, Ayala rallied back to win the 5th and 6th rounds unanimously. During the fight, an accidental clash of heads caused a cut and Ayala was deducted a point. The fight was later stopped due to the severity of the cut, sending the decision to the scorecards and thereby giving Tasuyoshi a technical decision victory.
bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia
, at Las Vegas
, on June 26. He gave Tapia his first career loss and became world champion by beating Tapia with a twelve round decision in what turned out to be both Ayala's HBO Boxing
debut and The Ring's fight of the year for 1999. He retained the title versus Saohin Sorthanicol before the end of that year. In his second title defense, Ayala defeated former as well as future Bantamweight world champion Johnny Bredahl
by a twelve round decision. On October 7, 2000, he and Tapia met in a rematch, also telecast on HBO Boxing. Tapia was unable to make the Bantamweight limit and thus Ayala's WBA title was not a stake. Ayala defeated Tapia once again by a twelve round uanimous decision.
On March 30, 2001, Ayala recovered from a fourth round knockdown to retain his title with a 12 round decision against Hugo Dianzo in an ESPN
telecast bout. Ayala then vacated the WBA title in order to move up in weight.
, who vacated his WBA super bantamweight title in order to face Ayala. Ayala defeated Adams by a split decision. In a rematch of their closely contested bout, Ayala defeated Adams by a wide unanimous decision. Both bouts were featured on HBO
telecasts.
for the vacant WBC
Featherweight title, this time coming on the losing end after 12 rounds by decision.
Ayala returned to the ring on November 15, 2003, as a Super Bantamweight. He beat Edel Ruiz by a ten round unanimous decision in Dallas. On June 19, 2004, Ayala once again ventured into the Featherweight division, losing to fellow former world champion Marco Antonio Barrera
by a knockout in ten in Los Angeles. In September of that year, he surprised many of his boxing fans by announcing his retirement from the sport.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and he professed so by thanking God for his success after virtually every fight. Ayala was promoted by Bob Arum
Bob Arum
Robert "Bob" Arum is the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. He also worked for the US Attorney's Office for the southern district of New York in the tax division....
.
Pro career
Ayala began his professional fighting career with a six round decision win over Jaime Olvera on November 27, 1992. He had seven fights in 1993, including one against veteran Jesse Magana. He won all seven, four by knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. Magana himself was knocked out in the fourth round by Ayala. In 1994, he won all four of his bouts, including one over veteran Lee Cargle. Cargle was beaten by Ayala with a knockout in round three. 1995 was a productive year for the young fighter. He won all five of his fights, including his first championship bout: He beat Mike Espinoza by knockout in three at Ft. Worth to claim the NABF Bantamweight title. He also defended that title twice before the end of the year, beating Mario Diaz
Mario Diaz
Mario Rafael Díaz Torres is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played from -.-External links:...
and Sergio Millan, both by decision in 12 rounds. In 1996, he only had two fights, both of them successful defenses of his regional belt: He knocked out Roland Gomez in seven rounds, and defeated Ivan Alvarez by decision in twelve.
He began 1997 by defeating Famosito Gomez by decision in twelve, once again retaining his belt. He won three more bouts that year, including a five round knockout over Roberto Lopez to retain the regional belt. At the beginning of 1998, Ayala was already very close to a world championship bout. After winning two more bouts, he received his first chance at becoming world champion, when with the famous Kickboxer Fabio Martella he travelled to Japan to challenge the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
bantamweight champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
is a former World Boxing Council world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 19–6–1 .He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows....
on August 23. Ayala lost the fight by a 6th round technical decision when the fight was stopped due to a cut. Tatsuyoshi dominated the opening rounds, however, Ayala rallied back to win the 5th and 6th rounds unanimously. During the fight, an accidental clash of heads caused a cut and Ayala was deducted a point. The fight was later stopped due to the severity of the cut, sending the decision to the scorecards and thereby giving Tasuyoshi a technical decision victory.
WBA Bantamweight title
After another win against Ivan Salazar, he began 1999 by beating David Vazquez by decision in ten. After being unable to secure a rematch with Tatsuyoshi, he got his second chance at becoming a world champion, this time against WBAWorld Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia
Johnny Tapia
John Lee "Johnny" Tapia is a Mexican-American five-time world boxing champion.-Childhood:Johnny Tapia's life began with tragedy. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. At the age of 8, his mother Virginia was kidnapped, raped, hung, repeatedly stabbed, and...
, at Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, on June 26. He gave Tapia his first career loss and became world champion by beating Tapia with a twelve round decision in what turned out to be both Ayala's HBO Boxing
HBO Boxing
HBO World Championship Boxing is a sports television series, premiering in January 1973 that has shown a number of significant boxing events in the last three decades....
debut and The Ring's fight of the year for 1999. He retained the title versus Saohin Sorthanicol before the end of that year. In his second title defense, Ayala defeated former as well as future Bantamweight world champion Johnny Bredahl
Johnny Bredahl
Johnny Bredahl , aka Johny Wahid Johansen, is a retired professional boxer in the bantamweight division. Bredahl is the former WBA world bantamweight champion...
by a twelve round decision. On October 7, 2000, he and Tapia met in a rematch, also telecast on HBO Boxing. Tapia was unable to make the Bantamweight limit and thus Ayala's WBA title was not a stake. Ayala defeated Tapia once again by a twelve round uanimous decision.
On March 30, 2001, Ayala recovered from a fourth round knockdown to retain his title with a 12 round decision against Hugo Dianzo in an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
telecast bout. Ayala then vacated the WBA title in order to move up in weight.
Super Bantamweight division
On August 4, 2001, Ayala challenged world champion Clarence "Bones" AdamsClarence Adams
Clarence Richard Adams is a former boxer. He has won a world title in the Super Bantamweight weight division.- Professional career :...
, who vacated his WBA super bantamweight title in order to face Ayala. Ayala defeated Adams by a split decision. In a rematch of their closely contested bout, Ayala defeated Adams by a wide unanimous decision. Both bouts were featured on HBO
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
telecasts.
Featherweight division
Continuing his rise in weight, Ayala on November 16, 2002 met Erik MoralesErik Morales
Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. He is the first Mexican born boxer in history to win a world title in four weight classes and is the current WBC Light Welterweight Champion...
for the vacant WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Featherweight title, this time coming on the losing end after 12 rounds by decision.
Ayala returned to the ring on November 15, 2003, as a Super Bantamweight. He beat Edel Ruiz by a ten round unanimous decision in Dallas. On June 19, 2004, Ayala once again ventured into the Featherweight division, losing to fellow former world champion Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia is a Mexicanprofessional boxer. He has won numerous world titles in three different weight classes; he is a former two-time WBO super bantamweight , WBC, Lineal, & The Ring featherweight , and WBC & IBF super featherweight champion...
by a knockout in ten in Los Angeles. In September of that year, he surprised many of his boxing fans by announcing his retirement from the sport.