Middleweight Elvin Ayala, who hails from New Haven, CT, received a round of applause after dominating Ray “Flash” Darden by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 at Foxwoods Resort Casino. However, one attendee –  super middleweight Curtis Stevens - didn’t show the same support for Ayala, who was fighting for the sixth time at a Connecticut casino. 


Stevens, who is co-promoted by Lou DiBella and Hip-Hop mogul Damon Dash, and managed by Chris Gotti, president of The Inc Records, told BoxingTalk.com: “I want Ayala.”

           
Stevens is willing to fight Ayala at 160 if Ayala’s not willing to come up to 168. Asked if he saw anything special in Ayala, Stevens said, “Nothing special. The only thing special is going to be how his a*s gets knocked out.”

           
Stevens and Ayala have both fought Darden. Stevens stopped Darden in two rounds in March. Darden was Stevens’ sixth knockout victim in six fights. However, Stevens’ knockout streak was snapped Thursday went he went the six-round distance with 60-fight veteran Shannon Miller at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.

            
Stevens, whose knockout artistry has gained him a big following in the Big Apple, is one half of the “Chin Checkers.” The other half is 2004 New York Daily News Golden Gloves champion and fellow rising star Jaidon Codrington.

   
Prior to Miller, none of Stevens’ opponents had made it past two rounds. Ayala, on the other hand, is not considered a knockout artist. Only four of his 11 victories have come by knockout. Since Stevens and Ayala are both undefeated up-and-coming prospects, it is unclear if DiBella, Stevens’ promoter, and Richie Cappiello, Ayala’s promoter, would be willing to match the two at this early stage in their careers.

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