Tony Ayala, Jr. Arrested

S A N  A N T O N I O, Dec. 12, 2000 -- Tony Ayala Jr., a once-promising boxer whohad resumed his career after 16 years in prison, faces burglarycharges after being shot by a woman in her home early today.

Ayala, 37, was shot in the shoulder with a .45-caliber pistolafter entering the home of an 18-year-old woman in the middle ofthe night, police said. He was in stable condition under policeguard at a hospital.

Deputy Police Chief Richard Gleinser said Ayala would be chargedwith burglary.

Undefeated Champ

Police said Ayala drove to the house to see the young woman,whom he had met at his father’s gym. He allegedly entered through an unlocked back door or window.

Alan Brown, Ayala’s lawyer, had no comment.

Ayala was released from a New Jersey prison in April 1999 afterserving 16 years for raping a neighbor during a middle-of-the-nightbreak-in on New Year’s Day in 1983.

Before his imprisonment, Ayala was a junior middleweightchampion and was undefeated in 22 fights. He returned to the ringthis year and won five more bouts before breaking his hand andlosing his first pro-career fight last July.