Controversial San Antonio boxing legend Tony Ayala Jr. found dead at gym

Tony Ayala Jr., attending father Tony Ayala Sr.'s funeral on April 16, is helping his brothers run Zarzamora Street Gym, where the elder Ayala trained boxers for decades. Tony Ayala Jr., attending father Tony Ayala Sr.'s funeral on April 16, is helping his brothers run Zarzamora Street Gym, where the elder Ayala trained boxers for decades. Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 80 Caption Close Controversial San Antonio boxing legend Tony Ayala Jr. found dead at gym 1 / 80 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Tony Ayala Jr., a controversial boxing legend from San Antonio, was found dead Tuesday morning at his West Side gym.

Ayala Jr., 52, was found slumped over at the Zarzamora Street Gym, located at 1402 N Zarzamora, early Tuesday morning, according to close friends of Ayala, including Brian Raditz, the boxer's former manager, and Henry Rodriguez.

Police received a call around 7:48 a.m. for a man found dead at the family-owned gym Tuesday morning, an SAPD spokeswoman said.

Ayala was a former top contender in the world as a middleweight with a record of 31 wins and 2 losses prior to his arrest for rape in New Jersey in 1983. He served 16 years in prison before being released in 1999.

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He was part of the famous Ayala boxing clan, led by his father and trainer, Tony Ayala Sr., who passed away in 2014. Brothers Mike, Sammy and Paulie all boxed both as amateurs and professionals.

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Ayala Jr. was reincarcerated in 2004 and spent 10 years in prison in Texas as a result of a parole violation.

Rodriguez had been working with Ayala since his release from prison last April.

"He was a very intelligent guy," Rodriguez said. "Some people would say too smart for his own good. He had good intentions here. He was certainly one of the greatest ever to come out of this city. He had a lot to offer."

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