Alex Ramos
Encyclopedia
Alex Ramos is a former middleweight
boxer
from the 1980s. A native of Manhattan, New York, he is Puerto Rican by his parents' side. He was nicknamed "The Bronx Bomber", after Joe Louis
, whose nickname was "The Brown Bomber".
Ramos won four New York state golden gloves
championships. During his childhood, he knew a man named Alberto Lugo, who claimed to be Alex Ramos when Luogowas arrested and charged with the assault of three women.
record of 143-15 (2 KOs). Ramos won four New York Golden Gloves Championships. 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.
in Stateline, Nevada
.
Ramos won his first five fights by knockout. 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 (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, 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.
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.
, 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, was arrested and charged with the assault of three women. When arrested, he told the police he was Alex Ramos. The alleged impostor was found guilty of rape, sodomy and kidnapping. 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. After Lugo was sentenced and publicly identified as Alberto Lugo, however, Ramos' name was cleared from any rape suspicions.
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.
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.
Ramos had a professional boxing record of 39 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws, with 24 wins by knockout.
Convicted Artist Magazine Interview with Alex Ramos
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from the 1980s. A native of Manhattan, New York, he is Puerto Rican by his parents' side. He was nicknamed "The Bronx Bomber", after Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, whose nickname was "The Brown Bomber".
Ramos won four New York state golden gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
championships. During his childhood, he knew a man named Alberto Lugo, who claimed to be Alex Ramos when Luogowas arrested and charged with the assault of three women.
Amateur career
Ramos had an amateurAmateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
record of 143-15 (2 KOs). Ramos won four New York Golden Gloves Championships. Ramos won the 1977 147 lb Sub-Novice Championship, defeating Julian Kelly
Julian Kelly
Julian James Kelly is a footballer who plays as a defender for Notts County-Club career:Born in London, Kelly was with Arsenal until the age of 16 when he joined Reading and became a scholar with the club in June 2006. He finished the 2007–08 season with 27 appearances in the Reading reserves,...
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
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Championship for the 165 lb division and the 1979 Intercity Golden Gloves
Intercity Golden Gloves
This amateur boxing tournament is considered by many boxing aficionados as one of the three most elite Golden Gloves titles, along with the Chicago Golden Gloves and the New York Golden Gloves....
in the 156 lb. division.
Professional boxing career
Ramos began his professional boxing career on November 8, 1980 by defeating Steve Arvin by a fifth round knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in Stateline, Nevada
Stateline, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 510 households, and 245 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,803.3 people per square mile . There were 562 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile...
.
Ramos won his first five fights by knockout. These bouts included four fights in the eastern United States and one in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. On March 28, 1981, in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, Dan Snyder
Dan Snyder
Daniel Snyder was a professional Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a centre in the National Hockey League for the Atlanta Thrashers...
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
Donnie Long
Donnie Long is an American heavyweight boxer from Columbus, Ohio.- Boxing career :Donnie Long started off his career strong, with a second round knockout of Tim Johnson. His star rose with 11 more wins, but was defeated by James Broad. Afterwards, it seemed he was no longer the same. He started...
by an eight rounds decision in San Remo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
, Italy. His next fight, on June 21 of the same year, marked his Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
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
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
champion Murray Sutherland
Murray Sutherland
Murray Sutherland was a Scottish boxer in the middleweight division.Murry Sutherland turned professional in 1977 and in 1981 challenged WBC Light Heavyweight Title holder Matthew Saad Muhammad, but lost by KO in the 9th round. Matthew Saad Muhammad was later quoted as saying that Sutherland was...
by a ten round decision, Ramos was by then held along with the highest ranked middleweights of the era, such as Mustafa Hamsho
Mustafa Hamsho
Mustafa Hamsho , born in 10 October 1953 in Latakia, Syria, was a Assyrian/Syriac boxer who never won a world title, but fought some big names in his career. Though he was not a winner in all of those fights, he did some things to make every one of his fights interesting and controversial in some...
, Wilford Scypion
Wilford Scypion
-Pro career:In February 1983, Scypion beat Frank Fletcher by a twelve round decision to take the USBA's regional Middleweight title. This victory guaranteed him a world championship try, against Marvin Hagler. The two competitors met on May 27, in a fight televised by HBO Boxing, which was...
, Juan Roldán
Juan Roldán
Juan Domingo Roldán is an Argentine former boxer whose nickname was Martillo . Roldán was very famous across Latin America during the 1980s, many articles about him appearing on Ring En Español magazine....
, John Mugabi
John Mugabi
John "The Beast" Mugabi is a former boxer and world Jr. Middleweight champion. A world traveller, Mugabi was a part of an early 1980s Jr...
, 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
Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
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
KO Magazine
KO Magazine is a popular United States boxing magazine. It was first published in 1979, to compete with The Ring.During the 1980s, KO Magazine, nicknamed "The knockout boxing magazine", ran some popular features, such as a round-by-round section where the most important fights were described punch...
, and his career was also covered in Puerto Rico by newspapers such as El Nuevo Dia
El Nuevo Día
El Nuevo Día is a Puerto Rican newspaper based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and distributed daily throughout Puerto Rico and some parts of the United States.- History :...
and El Vocero
El Vocero
El Vocero is a Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan.Published since 1974, El Vocero was at first the third of the four largest Puerto Rico newspapers, trailing El Mundo and El Nuevo Día and leading The San Juan Star in sales...
. A ten-round draw against fringe contender John Collins
John Collins
- Arts :*John Churton Collins , English literary critic*John Collins , bass guitarist for Powderfinger*John Collins , of The New Pornographers and The Smugglers...
, 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 (who years later lost to Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
over twelve rounds in a WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
world title bout) in Stateline.
In 1984, Ramos relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
.
After losing to Kinchen, Ramos got back on the contender's list by winning four out of his next five bouts, 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
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
.
This victory gave him a try for the California state middleweight title, held by future world champion Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn is a former American boxer. Nicknamed "Second to Nunn," he was a 6' 2" southpaw with great speed. Nunn was the IBF middleweight champion and the WBA super middleweight champion...
. The two boxers met on November 21 in Reseda, with Nunn gaining a twelve round decision.
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
Jorge Castro (boxer)
Jorge Fernando "Locomotora" Castro , is an Argentine boxer and former middleweight champion of the world, who is best known for his second defense of the title against John David Jackson in 1994....
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
for the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
Middleweight title. He defeated Ramos by a second round knockout. Ramos is now retired.
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 DerekBo Derek
Mary Cathleen Collins , better known as Bo Derek, is an American film and television actress, model, and sex symbol, known for her role as Jenny Hanley in the 1979 comedy film 10. However, Derek's film career soon faltered; her later films, including, Bolero and Ghosts Can't Do It , were poorly...
, Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
, Lolita Davidovich
Lolita Davidovich
Lolita Davidovich is a Canadian film and television actress.-Early life and career:Davidovich was born in London, Ontario, the daughter of immigrants from Yugoslavia. Her father was from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and her mother was from Slovenia; she spoke only Serbian during her early years...
, Col. Bob Sheridan
Bob Sheridan
Bob Sheridan, nicknamed Colonel Bob Sheridan, is a boxing and MMA commentator. He has broadcast over 10,000 fights on radio and television, with 890 world title fights...
, Ron Shelton
Ron Shelton
Ron Shelton is a U.S. film director and screenwriter, most notable for making movies about sports.Shelton is an alumnus of Santa Barbara High School and of the University of Arizona and Westmont College...
, James Carville
James Carville
Chester James Carville, Jr. is an American political consultant, commentator, educator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill...
and many others.
In February 1999, Alberto Lugo, whom Ramos had known as a neighbor in his youth, was arrested and charged with the assault of three women. When arrested, he told the police he was Alex Ramos. The alleged impostor was found guilty of rape, sodomy and kidnapping. 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. After Lugo was sentenced and publicly identified as Alberto Lugo, however, Ramos' name was cleared from any rape suspicions.
Ramos relocated to Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 people per square mile...
, 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.
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.
Ramos had a professional boxing record of 39 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws, with 24 wins by knockout.
Personal life
Ramos had 2 sisters named Betty Ramos and Miriam Ramos. His nieces and nephews are Beatriz Michelle Velazquez, Ramel Ray Anderson, Jamel Derrick Black, and Angel Rayel Velazquez.External links
- Interview in Doghouse Boxing
Convicted Artist Magazine Interview with Alex Ramos