Tyrone Crawley, Tommy Ayers and Tony Ayala, JR.: A Look Back
By Gary Friedman
The term “Sure Thing” in boxing has probably been utilized in some form or another since Daniel Mendoza was on top of the sport (Mendoza was Heavyweight Champ from 1792-1795) , and as in other sports that have “Sure Things” this declaration often proves to be incorrect. Still, when a new “Sure Thing” hits the scene in boxing it is always interesting to see the end results. Today’s “Sure Thing” is Felix Verdajo who seems to have every skill needed to ascend to superstardom but, based on past “Sure Things”, you never can be sure that will be his ultimate destination. With this in mind I thought back to some fighters in the 1980s who I thought would be “Sure Things”. Now keep in mind when I say “Sure Thing” I mean eventually winning a world title and being at the very least a credible champion rather than becoming one of the all time greats (though my 3rd choice likely would have been). Below are some of the fighters who hit my “Sure Thing” radar in the 1980’s, but only served to prove that there is no such thing as a “Sure Thing”.
TYRONE CRAWLEY
Tyrone Crawley had everything, but pop in his punches (only 7 KO’s in 22 wins). He was a very quick southpaw in the mode of a Pernell Whitaker who could also switch stances as effortlessly as anyone in boxing this side of Marvin Hagler. Crawley rose to almost stardom riding the ESPN boxing wave of the early 80s and in only his 9th pro fight beat the very dangerous Al “Earthquake” Carter for the ESPN Lightweight Title belt. He also handed future champion Gene Hatcher (eventual conqueror of semi sure thing Johnny Bumphus) his first loss in his very next fight. After losing a decision to fringe contender Melvin Paul, Crawley went on the best run of his career easily defeating formerly undefeated Edwin Curet 
and the very hyped and also unbeaten Robin Blake. Crawley also topped Stevie Romero and the rugged Charlie Brown.
This run led to Tyrone’s one and only title shot against Livingstone Bramble. In a very competitive fight, Crawley was eventually stopped in the 13th round and so effectively, and shockingly ended his career. He went on to win another three fights, but then retired for good with a 22-1 record. I have to think my rationale for believing Tyrone was a “Sure Thing” was due to that aforementioned uncanny ability to switch stances. Crawley could move from southpaw to orthodox in such a smooth motion that often times announcers would not even realize his had switched stances. In his nationally televised on CBS fight with the 22-1 Romero he put this and all his other skills together in such a devastating fashion (TKO 6) that it seemed as if he had finally moved on to that next level. Alas that was not to be and yet another was added to the pile of former “Sure Things”.
TOMMY AYERS
Tommy Ayers just looked like a future world champion. He had the perfect build for a welterweight where he combined size, speed and power to create what appeared to be the most perfect 147 pound package this side of Thomas Hearns. Ayers came out to Cincinnati and seemed certain to join fellow Cincy native Aaron Pryor as a holder of a world title belt. After cruising to a record of 21-0 (18 KOs) Ayers took a giant leap up in competition by taking on 28-1 top contender Marlon Starling in a nationally televised fight. Baring in mind both the great skill set of Starling and his very unconventional style, this would have seemed to be a really poor choice of opponent for Ayers at this time in his career. While Starling did in fact win the fight, he had to survive a life and death struggle to win a decision.
It was a case where a loss actually helped build up the stature of a fighter as Ayers came out of that fight a bonafide contender. He did little to dispel this view by rolling off another 13 consecutive victories including wins over Roger Stafford and Luis Santana. The Santana win was particularly impressive as Ayers stopped him in the 4thround. Now from his loss to Starling in July of 1983 until his Waterloo moment versus Rollin Williams in late June of 1987 you not only saw him reel off the 13 straight victories, but also not receive a title shot. In my view, it was this extended period where Ayers, despite multiple victories, was denied a title opportunity or even a major Starling like fight, that led to his complete breakdown against the 14-6-1 Williams where only a shell of Tommy Ayers showed up. He was soundly outpointed by Williams and never really contended again. Ayers’ career ended on 1990 with KO loses to Buddy McGirt and Jay Bell. I still believe if he was matched better after the Starling fight and given a title shot (or a top contender) we may have seen Tommy Ayers ascend to the top of the sport before complacency took him down another road. A true what could have been story in a sport filled with many similar stories.
TONY AYALA, JR.
There is no “Sure Thing That Turned Out Not To Be A “Sure Thing” story of the 1980s that could be officially complete without Tony Ayala, JR., perhaps the greatest “Sure Thing” to never happen in boxing history. Ayala, JR. was the closest specimen we will ever see to a prime Roberto Duran in the higher weight classes. He was simply a terror to grown men. It is incredible to think that the “prime” of his career happened prior to him even hitting 20 years old. Perhaps no Ayala, JR. victory stands out more than his destruction of Robbie Epps who had recently beaten undefeated top middleweight contender Dwight Davison.
There was bad blood in this fight as Epps had formerly trained under Ayala’s father and left 
the gym under negative circumstances, which included verbal shots towards the Ayala family. Ayala, JR. never one for needing motivation, seemed to have even added incentive and went right after Epps literally as the bell rung to open the fight. The ferociousness of the beating Epps took in the less than one round the fight lasted can only recall the savage beating Joe Louis inflicted on Max Schmeling in their rematch. It was a case where the will of a fighter to get even, combined with an incredible skill set, made the outcome impossible for the opponent to have any say in. After blitzing Epps, Ayala, JR. still was not satisfied and went after him after the Ref called off the fight.
It became a wild scene and cemented Ayala, JR. as the next Duran. Ironically Ayala, JR. next fought for what was likely a shot at Duran as he took on junior middleweight contender Carlos Herrera. Ayala, JR. easily passed this test with a 3rd round stoppage and Duran and sure superstardom was next. Of course if you are a boxing fan from the 1980s you know the rest of story. Ayala, JR., already in trouble with the law several times, broke into a home of a neighbor and raped her on New Year’s Day of 1983. He would serve 16 years in prison for this act and had the true prime of his career taken away from him.
Incredibly, a mid thirties Ayala, JR. resumed fighting after prison and even strung together some victories, but ultimately never moved to the next level again. He was subsequently arrested again and jailed in 2004 and was released earlier this year. I started this column by basically saying there is no such thing as a “Sure Thing” but I will contradict myself by saying that had Ayala, JR. not self imploded he would have become without a doubt a world champion and also likely an all time great. Of course we will never know though……