Sugar Ramos
Encyclopedia
Ultiminio Ramos is a Cuba
n-Mexican
boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico
where he was adopted as a national hero. He is a former featherweight
champion
and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
.
when Fidel Castro
came into power.
, Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos built his historical career. On March 21, 1963, Ramos had a bout scheduled at Dodger Stadium
. On that day, Ramos severely beat Davey Moore. In the 10th round, Moore was knocked down. His head bounced off the bottom rope, and then hit the canvas. Four days later, Moore died from injuries sustained to his brain stem.
This was similar to Ramos' twelfth professional fight in which Jose Blanco died from injuries sustained in the fight. Ramos was criticized.
wrote a song about the event where Davey Moore succumbed to death while posing the question of public responsibility. It is titled "Who Killed Davey Moore
?" and was also sung by Pete Seeger
.
Phil Ochs
wrote a song titled "Davey Moore" http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics/davey-moore.html which told the story of Davey Moore's death and placed the guilt on the managers and the boxing "money men" as well as boxing fans.
A tribute to Davey Moore is also made by the New Zealander and French writer and singer Graeme Allwright
wikipedia via his song Qui a tué Davy Moore (see Graeme_Allwright site)
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where he was adopted as a national hero. He is a former featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.
Exile
He won the Cuban Featherweight championship belt in 1960 and then fled to Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
when Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
came into power.
Famous bouts
In MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos built his historical career. On March 21, 1963, Ramos had a bout scheduled at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. On that day, Ramos severely beat Davey Moore. In the 10th round, Moore was knocked down. His head bounced off the bottom rope, and then hit the canvas. Four days later, Moore died from injuries sustained to his brain stem.
This was similar to Ramos' twelfth professional fight in which Jose Blanco died from injuries sustained in the fight. Ramos was criticized.
Retirement
Ramos lost his title in 1965 and never challenged for his title again. He did continue boxing, however, until 1972.Records
His record was 55 wins (40 KO's) 8 loses, and 3 Draws.- He was elected into the World Boxing Hall of FameWorld Boxing Hall of FameThe World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
in 1992 as both "Ultiminio Ramos" and "Sugar Ramos"--apparently as two different boxers.
Cultural references
Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
wrote a song about the event where Davey Moore succumbed to death while posing the question of public responsibility. It is titled "Who Killed Davey Moore
Who Killed Davey Moore
Who Killed Davey Moore was a topical song written in 1963 by American folk singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Though the song was not commercially released on Dylan's several studio albums in the 60s, it was popular in his repertoire for live shows during that era. It would later be released on The...
?" and was also sung by Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
.
Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
wrote a song titled "Davey Moore" http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics/davey-moore.html which told the story of Davey Moore's death and placed the guilt on the managers and the boxing "money men" as well as boxing fans.
A tribute to Davey Moore is also made by the New Zealander and French writer and singer Graeme Allwright
Graeme Allwright
Graeme Allwright is a singer-songwriter. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, he moved to France in 1948. He began to perform and write folk songs a few years later and was eventually signed by Sonogram. In the 1960s, he translated into French a number of songs written by Leonard Cohen, Tom...
wikipedia via his song Qui a tué Davy Moore (see Graeme_Allwright site)