Reuters People News Summary

May 13, 2015 11:55 AM

Following is a summary of current people news briefs.

Boxing contender and convicted rapist Ayala dead at 52 in Texas

Former boxer Tony Ayala Jr., a middleweight title contender whose career was cut short by a rape conviction, was found dead on Tuesday at the age of 52 at a gym in San Antonio. Ayala's death was confirmed by Henry Rodriguez, a long-time friend and business associate. After his release from prison, Ayala was seen as a mentor to a generation of Texas boxers, Rodriguez said.

TV chef Sandra Lee, N.Y. governor's girlfriend, diagnosed with cancer

Sandra Lee, a television chef and longtime girlfriend of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the governor will be taking time off to be with her, his office announced on Tuesday. Lee, 48, will undergo a double mastectomy this week, she said in an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America" program.

Director Del Toro says Cannes gives new talent a chance

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro said as he arrived in Cannes to serve on the main film festival jury on Tuesday that having gotten his start there with a debut film in 1993, he now wanted to give new generations of filmmakers a chance. Del Toro, director of the dark fantasy "Pan's Labyrinth", had his first film "Chronos" screened in Cannes. He will sit on a jury headed by the filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen for the festival, which opens on the French Riviera on Wednesday.