Career
In June 1991 he beat Wayne Weekes to take the vacant BBBofC Southern Area lightweight title. In October 1992 he stopped Scott Brouwer in the fourth round to take the WBC International title. He made a successful defence of this title in February 1993 against Danny Myburgh, setting up a challenge for Giovanni Parisi"s WBO World lightweight title in April that year.
Previously having a 100% record, Ayers suffered his first defeat with Parisi taking a unanimous points decision.
Over the next two years he made four successful defences, against Karl Taylor, Charles Shepherd, Dave Anderson, and Colin Dunne. The delays in getting to fight Grigorian led to Ayers relinquishing his British title in August 1997.
In March 1999 he stopped Luis Flores in the fourth round to take the vacant IBO World lightweight title. He made six successful defences of the World title, against Mkhuseli Kondile, Daniel Sarmiento, Tony Miller, Mehdi Labdouni, and twice against Wayne Rigby, the first of these voted "British fight of the year" by Boxing News.
A further defence against James Armah was cancelled due to a back injury sustained by Ayers.
In November 2001 he moved up a weight to challenge for Sarmiento"s IBO super lightweight title, losing via a unanimous points decision. Ayers relinquished his IBO lightweight title on 26 December, retiring from the sport. Ayers returned to the ring in July 2003 to fight Jon Honney, but lost a six-round points decision, after which he retired for good.