Columnist Dean Juipe: Las Vegas’ Adams to face his toughest challenge vs. Ayala

Dean Juipe

Thursday, July 5, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

Dean Juipe is on vacation this week but his boxing notebook appears Thursdays. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

After years of facing both good fighters and bad ones, Bones Adams is ready for his toughest test to date.

And he'll get that test when he steps into the ring with Paulie Ayala Aug. 4 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on a card that also includes Vitali Klitschko vs. Charles Shufford in a heavyweight fight of some significance.

"This is a tremendous chance for me," said Adams, who lives in Las Vegas although he is currently training in Big Bear, Calif. "As far as I'm concerned, winning this fight will be the difference between me being regarded as an average champion or a great one."

While Adams expects to be stripped of his World Boxing Association super bantamweight title prior to the fight, that's another story. The fact is, whether it's for a title or not, the Adams vs. Ayala winner will be recognized as the best fighter in the world at 122 pounds.

"I guarantee a great fight because I know Ayala will bring out the best in me," Adams said. "Anytime I've fought a guy who can't punch or isn't very active in the ring, I'm the same way and I do just enough to win.

"But if the guy can fight, like Ayala, I'm a lot more intense."

Adams, who turns 27 on Friday, is 41-3-3 with 19 knockouts. He grabbed the WBA title from Nestor Garza with a decision win last year at Mandalay Bay, and has defended that title twice (although not to the WBA's satisfaction).

Ayala, 31, is 32-1 with 12 KOs and rose to prominence with a pair of victories over Johnny Tapia. He's relinquishing his WBA bantamweight title as he can no longer make 118 pounds.

"No matter if he wants to punch or just try to out-box me, I'll beat him either way," Adams predicted. "I can out-punch him or I can win round to round."

He expects Ayala to display a little more power than he has in the past.

"It means a whole lot," Adams said of the difference between 118 and 122. "It affects your stamina and your power and might be what decides a fight. If you're having trouble making 118 like he was, you just have to try and win any way you can.

"But if he's comfortable at 122, he might be thinking of a knockout."

Adams said his hands are in good shape after earlier problems, and that he took off for Big Bear to escape the everyday trappings of Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas is my hometown now but I need to get away for a few weeks," he said. "My abilities have to come out to win this fight, so I need to do everything perfectly."

His promoter, Bob Arum, said "I believe Bones will concede this is his toughest fight to date." And Adams, outwardly at least, is hoping it is.

"If Paulie looks great, I'll look even better," he said, confident he can rise to his opponent's challenge.