Elvin Ayala | |
---|---|
Born | Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 15, 1981
Nationality | American |
Other names | The Lycan |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Middleweight |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 43 |
Wins | 29 |
Wins by KO | 13 |
Losses | 13 |
Draws | 1 |
Elvin Ayala (born January 15, 1981) is an American professional boxer. He is a former world-title challenger.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, but raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Ayala took up boxing as a way to stay off the streets and out of trouble. He credits former light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson as one of his early influences.
"I really didn’t have any schooling," Ayala said, "and there were drugs everywhere I grew up. When I came to Connecticut, Chad was coming up at the time and becoming a star and making money, and I’m like, 'Wait, you can make money off this?'
"I didn’t want to live a life where I had to look over my shoulder all the time, but I still needed to make money. I didn’t want to live in poverty anymore." [1]
At the age of 22, Ayala made his professional debut on September 19, 2003, with a unanimous decision win over Michael Gutrick in Toms River, New Jersey, a short distance from his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Within a year, Ayala improved his professional record to 7–0 with one knockout. On November 11, 2004, Ayala earned his eighth professional win by knocking out Chance Leggett, then 11–3, in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout at The Roxy in Boston, Massachusetts. The victory over Leggett began a stretch of three consecutive knockout wins for Ayala.
Ayala eventually won his first 16 fights before facing his toughest test to date against future The Contender reality television participant David Banks, who was 12-1-1 at the time, on November 24, 2006, at The Roxy. Ayala lost a narrow split decision, 94–97, 95–96, 96-94 — the first loss of his professional career. Three months later, Ayala faced Banks again, this time losing by unanimous decision, 91–99, 93–97, 94–96, at Mohegan Sun in February 2007. [2]
Ayala bounced back with back-to-back wins against Dillon Carew and Jose Angel Roman in Connecticut and closed the year with arguably his most impressive performance in a controversial draw against then-unbeaten The Contender Season 1 champion Sergio Mora at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Ayala lost, 91–99, on judge David Mendoza's scorecard, but won the bout, 96–94, on Raul Caiz Jr.'s scorecard. Max DeLuca judged the bout even at 95-95.
The draw dropped Ayala's record to 18-2-1, setting up the biggest fight of Ayala's young career — a showdown against undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham. The bout took place on March 29, 2008, in Germany two months after Ayala's 27th birthday. Abraham won the majority of the rounds, sending Ayala to the canvas in the fifth, and finished Ayala for good via 12th-round knockout with just 28 seconds remaining in the fight. Abraham improved to 26–0 with the win, which was also his seventh world-title defense. [3]
Following a 10-month stretch of inactivity, Ayala returned with back-to-back wins against Antony Bartinelli and Eddie Caminero before losing a United States Boxing Association (USBA) middleweight title bout against former world-title challenger Lajuan Simon by unanimous decision at the Palms Casino Resort.
Ayala then traveled to Montreal, Quebec in June 2010 to face hometown favorite David Lemieux, who entered the bout at 22–0 with 21 knockouts, on ESPN's Friday Night Fights for the WBC International middleweight title. Ayala hit the canvas three times in the opening round and lost by technical knockout at the 2:44 mark. [4] "There were so many excuses after the loss [to Lemieux]. Everyone had all these reasons," Ayala said. “I felt the only reason was because I was too heavy and had to lose the weight rapidly. I was drained. Who can fight like that? My four-year-old daughter could’ve hit me that day and knocked me out." [5]
After his loss to Lemieux, Ayala stringed together six wins against lesser opposition and won the USNBC title along the way. Ayala would then lose a fight to Curtis Stevens for the NABF title via round 1 stoppage. Stevens overpowered Ayala, knocking him down twice in the first round.
Ayala won an upset unanimous decision (78-74, 78–74, 77–75) over Mayweather Promotions prospect Ronald Gavril. [6] However, Ayala would lose his next fight to Sergiy Derevyanchenko by unanimous decision. In November 2016, Ayala defeated Marcos Reyes by round 7 TKO. This was Ayala's first stoppage win in over 4 years.
43 fights | 29 wins | 13 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 13 | 5 |
By decision | 16 | 8 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | Loss | 29–13–1 | Bakhram Murtazaliev | TKO | 9 (10), 2:05 | Feb 2, 2019 | Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, U.S. | For WBC-USNBC light middleweight title |
42 | Loss | 29–12–1 | Patrick Day | UD | 10 | Oct 27, 2018 | Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | For WBC Continental Americas light middleweight title |
41 | Loss | 29–11–1 | Alantez Fox | UD | 8 | Sep 22, 2018 | Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland, U.S. | |
40 | Loss | 29–10–1 | Vaughn Alexander | TKO | 7 (10), 1:42 | Oct 5, 2017 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
39 | Loss | 29–9–1 | Junior Castillo | UD | 12 | Apr 27, 2017 | Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas, U.S. | For vacant WBF middleweight title |
38 | Win | 29–8–1 | Marcos Reyes | TKO | 7 (10), 1:43 | Nov 3, 2016 | Dallas Petroleum Club, Dallas, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBC-USNBC middleweight title |
37 | Loss | 28–8–1 | Christopher Brooker | MD | 8 | Sep 9, 2016 | Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
36 | Loss | 28–7–1 | Sergiy Derevyanchenko | UD | 8 | Aug 7, 2015 | Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
35 | Win | 28–6–1 | Ronald Gavril | UD | 8 | Mar 28, 2015 | Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
34 | Win | 27–6–1 | Aaron Mitchell | UD | 6 | Jan 17, 2015 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
33 | Loss | 26–6–1 | Curtis Stevens | KO | 1 (10), 1:10 | Jan 19, 2013 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | For vacant NABF middleweight title |
32 | Win | 26–5–1 | John Mackey | TKO | 9 (10), 0:53 | Jul 21, 2012 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
31 | Win | 25–5–1 | Eric Mitchell | UD | 8 | Mar 30, 2012 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | Retained WBC-USNBC middleweight title |
30 | Win | 24–5–1 | Derrick Findley | UD | 10 | Jul 29, 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | Won vacant WBC-USNBC middleweight title |
29 | Win | 23–5–1 | George Armenta | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00 | May 6, 2011 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
28 | Win | 22–5–1 | Joe Gardner | RTD | 4 (6), 3:00 | Apr 1, 2011 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
27 | Win | 21–5–1 | Mustafah Johnson | UD | 6 | Feb 4, 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
26 | Loss | 20–5–1 | David Lemieux | KO | 1 (12), 2:44 | Jun 11, 2010 | Uniprix Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | For vacant WBC International middleweight title |
25 | Loss | 20–4–1 | Lajuan Simon | UD | 12 | Oct 17, 2009 | Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For IBF-USBA middleweight title |
24 | Win | 20–3–1 | Eddie Caminero | TKO | 3 (6), 0:41 | Jun 27, 2009 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
23 | Win | 19–3–1 | Anthony Bartinelli | UD | 8 | Jan 23, 2009 | Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
22 | Loss | 18–3–1 | Arthur Abraham | KO | 12 (12), 2:32 | Mar 29, 2008 | Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany | For IBF middleweight title |
21 | Draw | 18–2–1 | Sergio Mora | SD | 10 | Oct 16, 2007 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. | |
20 | Win | 18–2 | Jose Angel Roman | UD | 8 | Jun 29, 2007 | Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
19 | Win | 17–2 | Dillon Carew | TKO | 2 (6) | Jun 9, 2007 | Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
18 | Loss | 16–2 | David Banks | UD | 10 | Feb 23, 2007 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
17 | Loss | 16–1 | David Banks | SD | 10 | Nov 24, 2006 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
16 | Win | 16–0 | John Gottschling | TKO | 1 (6), 0:19 | Jul 21, 2006 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
15 | Win | 15–0 | Larry Marks | MD | 10 | Jun 17, 2006 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
14 | Win | 14–0 | Virgil McClendon | TKO | 4 (6), 1:50 | May 10, 2006 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
13 | Win | 13–0 | William Gill | UD | 6 | Mar 31, 2006 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | David Estrada | TKO | 5 (8), 2:50 | Jul 8, 2005 | Athletic Center, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | |
11 | Win | 11–0 | Raynard Darden | UD | 6 | May 6, 2005 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Jose Medina | TKO | 4 (6), 3:00 | Apr 1, 2005 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Mack Willis | TKO | 2 (6) | Dec 17, 2004 | Shaw's Convention Center, Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Chance Leggett | TKO | 7 (8), 2:24 | Nov 11, 2004 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Julio Jean | UD | 6 | Aug 27, 2004 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Jacob Rodriguez | UD | 6 | Jun 12, 2004 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Aundalen Sloan | UD | 6 | May 7, 2004 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Chris Troupe | UD | 4 | Jan 30, 2004 | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Keith Sonley | UD | 4 | Jan 9, 2004 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Darus Hunter | KO | 1 (4), 2:40 | Nov 11, 2003 | Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Michael Gutrick | UD | 4 | Sep 19, 2003 | Ritacco Center, Toms River, New Jersey, U.S. |
John Lee Anthony Tapia was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2011. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the unified IBF and WBO super flyweight titles between 1994 and 1998, the unified WBA and WBO bantamweight titles between 1998 and 2000, and the IBF featherweight title in 2002. His 1999 loss by decision to Paulie Ayala was named the Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine.
Paul Anthony "Paulie" Ayala is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2004. He was a multiple-division World champion who held the WBA bantamweight title, and the IBO super bantamweight title. In 1999 he was voted "Fighter of the Year" by The Ring magazine for his first bout against Johnny Tapia, which also won "Fight of the Year" honors.
During the 1960s, boxing, like mostly everything else around the world, went through changing times. Notable was the emergence of a young boxer named Cassius Clay, who would, in his own words shock the world, declare himself against war, and change his name to Muhammad Ali.
During the 1950s, a couple of relatively new developments changed the world: World War II had only been over for five years when the 1950s began, and television was beginning to make a major impact internationally. In boxing, changes connected to these developments could be seen too, as boxers who fought at the 1940s conflict returned to their homes and many of them were back in the ring. Television producers were in love with sports, which provided the viewer with an opportunity to observe sporting events live, and boxing was not the exception to the rule; many television networks began to feature fights live during the weekends, and the Gillette Friday Night Fights proved to be one of the most popular boxing television series in American history.
Luis Ramón "Yori Boy" Campas Medina is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 2019. He held the IBF light middleweight title from 1997 to 1998.
Jermain Taylor is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2014. He remains the most recent undisputed middleweight champion, having won the WBA (Undisputed), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles in 2005 by beating Bernard Hopkins, and in doing so ending Hopkins' ten-year reign as middleweight champion. This made Taylor the first, and to date, only male boxer in history to claim each title from all four major boxing sanctioning organizations in a single fight. He once again defeated Hopkins six months later, making him the only fighter to have defeated Hopkins twice. He retired as a world champion in the months that followed his capture of the IBF middleweight title for a second time, after making a substantial recovery from a brain injury sustained earlier in his career.
Jeffrey Scott Lacy is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2015. He held the IBF super middleweight title from 2004 to 2006, and the IBO super middleweight title from 2005 to 2006. Lacy rose to prominence in the early to mid-2000s as a feared puncher in the division, with his physique and knockout record making him one of boxing's top-rated prospects at the time.
Kassim Ouma is a Ugandan professional boxer. He held the IBF junior middleweight title from 2004 to 2005, and has challenged twice for a world middleweight title in 2006 and 2011.
José María Flores Burlón is an Uruguayan former professional boxer. Flores Burlón had a total of 115 professional bouts. He challenged once for the WBC Cruiserweight title in 1988.
Avetik Abrahamyan, best known as Arthur Abraham, is an Armenian-German former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF middleweight title from 2005 to 2009, and the WBO super-middleweight title twice between 2012 and 2016.
Anthony Dirrell is an American professional boxer. He was a two-time WBC super middleweight champion, having held the title in 2019 and previously from 2014 to 2015. He is the younger brother of 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell, who is also a professional boxer.
Bryan Lee Vera is an American professional boxer currently competing as a super middleweight. He is best known for his memorable and notable victories over then-undefeated Andy Lee in 2008, former world champion Sergio Mora and Serhiy Dzinziruk in 2013. Vera currently trains in Cedar Park, Texas.
Sergiy Vyacheslavovich Derevyanchenko, is a Ukrainian professional boxer who has challenged three times for world middleweight titles; the IBF title in 2018; the IBF and IBO titles in 2019; and the WBC title in 2020. As an amateur, he won the bronze medal at middleweight at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships. As of February 2021, he is ranked as the world's fourth best active middleweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, eighth by BoxRec and fourth by The Ring magazine.
David Lemieux is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 2007 to 2022. who held the IBF middleweight title in 2015.
Boxing in the 2010s includes notable events about boxing which occurred between 2010 and 2019. The decade saw high intensity action in the welterweight division. The match between veterans Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao broke PPV records. The broadcast of the fight in the Philippines was watched by nearly half the country's households. Mayweather retired at a record 50-0-0 while Pacquiao became the first eight division champion. The middleweight division saw immense action in the later years of the decade. After a draw in 2017, Canelo Alvarez ended Gennady Golovkin's long reign in 2018. The heavyweight division was dominated by Klitschko brothers before Wladimir's loss to Tyson Fury in 2015. Other talents that emerged were Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksander Usyk.
Jermell DeAvante Charlo is an American professional boxer. He has held the Ring magazine junior middleweight title since 2020, and previously the undisputed championship in that weight class from 2022 to 2023.
Ronald Gavril is a Romanian professional boxer. He is signed to Mayweather Promotions and is currently trained by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.
Maciej Sulęcki is a Polish professional boxer who challenged for the WBO middleweight title in 2019.
Anthony David Benavidez is an American professional boxer. He is a two-time WBC super middleweight champion, having held the title from 2017 to 2018 and again from 2019 to 2020. Claiming his first belt at 20 years, eight months, three weeks and one day old, Benavidez holds the record as the youngest super middleweight title holder in history. He is ranked second by The Ring, second by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and fourth by BoxRec.
Caleb Hunter Plant is an American professional boxer who held the IBF super middleweight title from 2019 to 2021.