Alex Ramos

Alex Ramos (born January 17, 1961) is a former middleweight boxer from the 1980s. A native of Manhattan, New York, whose parents were from Puerto Rico, Ramos won four Golden Gloves titles in New York City in the late 1970s (1977–1980) and was on the USA Boxing team from 1978–80. Ramos was nicknamed "The Bronx Bomber" after Joe Louis, whose nickname was "The Brown Bomber".

Alex Ramos
Statistics
Real nameAlex Ramos
Nickname(s)Bronx Bomber
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
NationalityPuerto Rican
Born(1961-01-17)January 17, 1961
Manhattan, New York
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins39
Wins by KO24
Losses10
Draws2

Ramos turned pro after his amateur career was abruptly ended by President Jimmy Carter's decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow due to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Upon turning pro, Ramos was the first professional boxer who was managed by Shelly Finkel. Alex Ramos later went on to win the International Boxing Federation USBA Middleweight title when he defeated Curtis Parker in 1984.

After Ramos's retirement, he fell victim to alcohol/substance abuse and found himself living on the streets, which ultimately led to Ramos entering rehab. He then went on to form the Retired Boxer's Foundation (a non-profit foundation) with the help of Jacquie Richardson.

Amateur career

Ramos had an amateur record of 143-15 (132 KOs). Ramos won four New York Golden Gloves Championships.[1] Ramos won the 1977 147 lb Sub-Novice Championship, defeating Julian Kelly in the finals; the 1978 160 lb Open Championship over Norberto Sabater; the 1979 160 lb Open Championship over Noel Tucker and the 1980 156 lb Open Championship over Ramon Nieto. Ramos trained at the Jerome Boxing Club in the Bronx, New York, in 1977 and 1978. In 1979 and 1980 Ramos trained at the Bronxchester Boys Club in the Bronx, New York.

Ramos's amateur career highlights include winning the 1979 National Amateur Athletic Union Championship for the 165 lb division and the 1979 Intercity Golden Gloves in the 156 lb. division.

Ramos originally intended to fly on LOT Polish Airlines Flight 7, where several of his teammates were killed, but stayed to participate in the 1980 National Golden Gloves.[2]

Professional boxing career

Ramos began his professional boxing career on November 8, 1980, by defeating Steve Arvin by a fifth round knockout in Stateline, Nevada.

Ramos won his first five fights by knockout.[3] These bouts included four fights in the eastern United States and one in Texas. On March 28, 1981, in Syracuse, New York, Dan Snyder became the first boxer to go the scheduled distance with Ramos, who beat Snyder by a six-round decision.

On May 23, 1981, Ramos had his first professional fight abroad when he beat Donnie Long by an eight rounds decision in San Remo, Italy. His next fight, on June 21 of the same year, marked his Atlantic City debut, when he defeated Mike Sacchetti, also by an eight rounds decision. Ramos would fight in Atlantic City several times during his career.

Ramos won six more fights, including a victory over Norberto Sabater, before suffering his first loss, being knocked out in round eight by Ted Sanders on August 18, 1982, in Atlantic City. He then fought Tony Cerda to a ten-round draw (tie) on December 22.

After those two setbacks, however, Ramos became a ranked middleweight by virtue of three straight victories, including a ten-round decision over future world light-heavyweight champion J.B. Williamson on May 1 in Atlantic City. Despite losing his next fight, against future world super middleweight champion Murray Sutherland by a ten-round decision, Ramos was by then held along with the highest ranked middleweights of the era, such as Mustafa Hamsho, Wilford Scypion, Juan Roldán, John Mugabi, Curtis Parker and others.

After knocking out Wilbur Henderson in three rounds on February 8, 1984, in Atlantic City, Ramos challenged Parker for his first career title, the regional, United States Boxing Association Middleweight championship. He won the title by beating Parker over twelve rounds by a unanimous decision on April 25 of that year, in Atlantic City.

A world title fight against Marvin Hagler probably loomed ahead for Ramos after his victory over Parker. Many fans in the United States took interest in Ramos thanks in part to coverage by such magazines as the Ring and KO, and his career was also covered in Puerto Rico by newspapers such as El Nuevo Dia and El Vocero. A ten-round draw against fringe contender John Collins, however, proved to be the first obstacle for that match to take place. The second, and arguably largest, obstacle for Ramos to challenge Hagler for the World Middleweight Championship came when he lost his USBA Middleweight title, on November 24, by a knockout in round nine against James Kinchen[4] (who years later lost to Thomas Hearns over twelve rounds in a WBO world title bout) in Stateline.

In 1984, Ramos relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.

After losing to Kinchen, Ramos got back on the contender's list by winning four out of his next five bouts,[4] which included victories over J.J. Cotrell and former Thomas Hearns challenger Fred Hutchings, whom he knocked out in five rounds on August 16, 1986, in Stockton, California.

This victory gave him a try for the California state middleweight title, held by future world champion Michael Nunn. The two boxers met on November 21 in Reseda, with Nunn gaining a twelve-round decision.[3]

After winning two of his three next fights, and after Nunn had vacated the belt, Ramos got a second chance to win the California win. This time, he was knocked out in eight rounds by Tim Williams.

After another victory, Ramos got his third chance at the California Middleweight title, being outpointed by Alphonso Long after twelve rounds on February 3, 1988.

Ramos won ten of his next twelve bouts over the next six years, finally earning him a shot for another middleweight title. On November 5, 1994, he fought Jorge Fernando Castro in Argentina for the WBA Middleweight title. He defeated Ramos by a second-round knockout. Ramos is now retired.[5]

Professional boxing record

39 Wins (24 knockouts, 15 decisions), 10 Losses (6 knockouts, 4 decisions), 2 Draws
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 94-4-2 Jorge Fernando Castro KO 2 05/11/1994 Gimnasio Municipal, Caleta Olivia, Argentina WBA World Middleweight Title. Ramos knocked out at 1:13 of the second round.
Win 0-8 Anthony Montana TD 5 06/09/1994 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 1-13-1 Larry McFadden TKO 2 27/08/1994 Veteran's Coliseum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Win 4-14 Willie Perry UD 8 15/08/1994 Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, United States
Win 0-1 Steve "Cleveland" Brown KO 2 18/07/1994 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Win 22-19-1 Steve Langley UD 10 08/06/1994 Pico Rivera, California, United States
Win 0-3 James "Pitch" Black KO 4 02/05/1994 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win 10-2-2 Sean "Match Maker" Gibbons TKO 5 30/04/1994 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Win 19-100-3 Reggie Strickland PTS 8 25/04/1994 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win 1-11 Billy Pryor TKO 2 07/04/1994 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Loss 9-1 Segundo Mercado TKO 4 09/02/1991 Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:07 of the fourth round.
Win 16-11-1 Roberto Rosiles TKO 5 27/11/1990 Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California, United States
Win 11-8 Ali Sanchez PTS 10 30/10/1990 Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California, United States
Loss 21-6-2 Al "Bumblebee" Long PTS 12 03/02/1988 Riverside, California, United States California Light Middleweight Title.
Win 10-7-3 Roderick Starks UD 10 03/12/1987 Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, United States 96-93, 98-92, 96-93.
Loss 12-3-1 Tim "Modern Outsider" Williams TKO 8 29/09/1987 Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California, United States California Middleweight Title.
Loss 25-1 Darnell "Hard" Knox TKO 10 11/08/1987 Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 18-6 Charles "Machine Gun" Carter UD 10 29/04/1987 Sportsman of Stanislaus Club, Modesto, California, United States
Win 10-4 Ron "Mitch" Daniels KO 2 31/03/1987 Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California, United States Daniels knocked out at 0:57 of the second round.
Loss 19-0 Michael Nunn UD 12 21/11/1986 Reseda Country Club, Reseda, California, United States California Middleweight Title. 108-120, 108-120, 109-119.
Win 30-4 Fred "Pumper" Hutchings KO 5 16/08/1986 Stockton, California, United States
Loss 17-6 Charles "Machine Gun" Carter PTS 10 08/05/1986 Oakland, California, United States
Win 23-22-4 JJ Cottrell KO 1 18/12/1985 Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, United States
Win 5-1 Nathan Dryer KO 7 12/07/1985 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win -- Karl Buchanan KO 2 14/06/1985 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss 33-0-2 James "The Heat" Kinchen KO 9 24/11/1984 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States IBF USBA Middleweight Title. Ramos knocked out at 0:50 of the ninth round.
Draw 31-1 John "Jackie" Collins PTS 10 10/06/1984 Depaul University Alumni Hall, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 25-5 Curtis Parker PTS 12 25/04/1984 Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States IBF USBA Middleweight Title.
Win 12-6-2 Wilbur Henderson KO 3 08/02/1984 Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 6-2-2 Ronnie "Jackie" Robinson KO 4 14/12/1983 Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States
Loss 39-10-1 Murray Sutherland UD 10 13/09/1983 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 19-13-3 James Waire TKO 10 30/06/1983 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 13-0 JB Williamson UD 10 01/05/1983 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 21-1 Mark Frazie PTS 10 26/03/1983 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Draw 14-2-2 Tony Cerda PTS 10 22/12/1982 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States 97-93, 95-95, 94-97.
Loss 8-15-4 Ted Sanders KO 8 18/08/1982 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 21-2 Wayne Caplette KO 4 16/05/1982 Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 6-4-1 Jimmy "Schoolboy" Baker KO 5 19/04/1982 Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 5-5 Charlie Hecker KO 8 17/02/1982 Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, United States
Win 20-1 Norberto Sabater UD 10 14/11/1981 Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 7-21-1 Fermin Guzman TKO 6 03/10/1981 Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 10-4-1 Rocky Fabrizio TKO 4 20/08/1981 Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 0:44 of the fourth round.
Win 10-1 Mike Sacchetti PTS 8 21/06/1981 Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 19-1 Danny Long PTS 8 23/05/1981 Sanremo, Italy
Win 8-3-1 "Dollar" Bill Tuttle UD 8 16/04/1981 Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States
Win 12-14 "Dancin" Dan Snyder PTS 6 28/03/1981 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win 22-7-1 Marciano Bernardi TKO 2 08/02/1981 Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, United States
Win 1-2 Jose "Birdie" Pacheco KO 5 16/01/1981 HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, United States Pacheco knocked out at 0:41 of the fifth round.
Win 2-6 Leo "The Lion" Martinez KO 1 20/12/1980 Kingsbridge Armory, Bronx, New York, United States
Win 3-28-1 Johnny "Reb" Davis TKO 4 25/11/1980 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 12-3 Steve Arvin KO 5 08/11/1980 Stateline, Nevada, United States

Life after boxing

Ramos began working in the sport of boxing doing other things inside the sport. In 1998, he established the Retired Boxers Foundation whose mission is to assist retired professional boxers in the transition from their glorious days in the ring to a dignified retirement. Among other celebrities who became involved in the organizations are Bo Derek, Mickey Rooney, Lolita Davidovich, Col. Bob Sheridan, Ron Shelton, James Carville and many others.

In February 1999, Alberto Lugo, whom Ramos had known as a neighbor in his youth,[1] was arrested and charged with the assault of three women. When arrested, he told the police he was Alex Ramos.[6] The alleged impostor was found guilty of rape, sodomy and kidnapping.[6][7] Ramos' private life was severely affected by the Lugo case: since Lugo had told detectives that he was Alex Ramos, many people actually believed Ramos to be a rapist.[6] After Lugo was sentenced and publicly identified as Alberto Lugo, however, Ramos' name was cleared from any rape suspicions.[7]

Ramos relocated to Simi Valley, California, where he lived for a long period before returning to New York to begin the Retired Boxers Foundation. While in Simi Valley, he struggled with drugs and alcohol, but he was able to successfully recover from both addictions.[8]

On August 30, 2008, Ramos was found in a coma by RBF's executive director Jacquie Richardson, who had him immediately rushed to the hospital. Ramos was put on a medically induced coma, and initial prognosis was grim.[9]

Ramos had a professional boxing record of 39 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws, with 24 wins by knockout.[5]

Personal life

Ramos had two sisters named Betty Ramos and Miriam Ramos. His mother passed her name is Socorro Texidor Ramos and father name is Bernardo Ramos. His nieces and nephews from his younger sister Betty Ramos are Beatriz Michelle Velazquez born September 18, 1983, Ramel Ray Anderson March 7, 2000, an all around athlete, Jamel Derrick Black Velazquez born June 19, 2006, and Angel Rayel Velazquez born December 22, 2008. Beatriz is the first college graduate from the family. Betty Ramos died in 2005. His older sister Miriam has two sons George and Christopher Martinez, and a daughter Diamond Martinez. George has a son now named Matthew Martinez. Christopher recently married and is a tattoo artist.

References

  1. McShane, Larry (2000-10-01). "Boxer Takes On New Fight: Reclaiming His Identity (page 1)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  2. Gloom hangs over Golden Gloves competition, by Tom Hanrahan, Daily News from New York, March 15, 1980, p. 385.
  3. Tosches, Rich (1990-10-28). "Fighting With Conviction: Boxer Ramos Vows to Right His Career After Prison Term". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  4. Springer, Steve (1986-11-12). "Alex Ramos Plans to Write an Ending to His Story With Victory Over Michael Nunn". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  5. McShane, Larry (2000-10-01). "Boxer Takes On New Fight: Reclaiming His Identity (page 3)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  6. McShane, Larry (2000-10-01). "Boxer Takes On New Fight: Reclaiming His Identity (page 4)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  7. McShane, Larry (2000-10-01). "Boxer Takes On New Fight: Reclaiming His Identity (page 5)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  8. "WILL THE REAL ALEX RAMOS PLEASE STAND UP?". Boxing Monthly. September 2000. Archived from the original on 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2006-03-04.
  9. Indri, Mike (30 Aug 2008). "RBF's Alex Ramos Fighting For His Life in The Hospital". BoxingScene.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010.
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