ALEX RAMOS INTERVIEW: CRUSADER FOR RETIRED BOXERS

Posted on | June 21, 2008 | 3 Comments

Where Are They Now? Alex Ramos.
Former amateur, pro boxing standout and founder of the Retire Boxers Association speaks out.

By Shawn M. Murphy

Recently I spoke with Alex Ramos, former USBA Middleweight Champion and nicknamed the “Bronx Bomber”. Ramos is widely considered among the best ever amateurs to come out of New York City. Ramos won four New York State Golden Gloves titles.

Ramos turned professional in 1980 and in 1984 won the USBA Middleweight title against Curtis Parker. Ramos lost his only bid for a world title, against Jorge Fernando Castro in 1994. After this bout, Ramos retired with a record of 39-10-2. He is Founder and President of the Retired Boxers Foundation.

(SM) Mr. Ramos, how did you first get started in boxing and talk about your amateur career a little.

(AR) I came from the South Bronx, grew up with mainly blacks, Puerto Ricans, and maybe one Irish guy. At about seven years of age I had beat a kid in the ring and all the guys would throw me up in the air and cheer and God it felt good. My mom and dad’s god-son and a guy named Adonis Torres started taking me to the gym. Most of the guys there were in high school at the time, I was in grade school. It was Gil Clancy’s gym then. A guy named Jaran Mancament taught me how to box. At eleven years old I really started to train hard and I loved it. I use to go there everyday. They even did a story on me at that age. I was in the newspapers, the Metropolitan Review. I was so excited about that. I was undefeated as an amateur from 1972-1975. I was 180-9 overall as an amateur, not 143-9 as has been reported at times. There were a lot of, I guess you could say, illegal boxing matches back then, gym against gym type things. I fought all over the state. I represented PAL (Police Athletic League) and knocked everyone out. Same thing with the Empire State games and the Jr. Olympics. Still to this day they say I was one of the hottest to ever come out of New York City. I’m just being honest, not because it’s me. I was even featured in Time Magazine before I turned pro.

(SM) What about the USA boycott of the 1980 Olympics, how did you feel?

(AR) It disappointed me a lot. It disappointed all the athletes. I went to Russia later for a USA VS USSR boxing tournament. I was the only one to win the most outstanding fighter award. I knocked the Russian out in the third round. Jim McKay was one of the announcers. Russia was a very interesting place. It was great to bring back that crystal bear trophy, called a Misha. That was the Olympic symbol from the 1980 Olympics. I got to carry the torch for the 2004 Olympics, that’s where I feel I got my Gold medal.

(SM) After your amateur career you turned pro under Shelly Finkel. Looking back were you happy with going with Finkel?

(AR) Shelly discovered me at age sixteen, when I fought in the sub-novice, the Golden Gloves. I met with him a week later over lunch. Shelly was like a father to me. I still love him like a father. Shelly and his wife were like family to me. I remember one time I ran away from home, just packed my stuff and left. I went right to Shelly’s house. I was upset with something my mom had said to me or did. I made a lot of mistakes back then. A lot of fighters were taken advantage in their careers, I never was. I remember making $25,000 for my pro debut, so as far as ever being taken advantage of, I wasn’t. I still love the game today, I’m gonna die a fighter. But I’m gonna die a fighter doing the right things for my brothers in the sport. That’s how I live my life today.

(SM) What would you say was your biggest victory in the ring?

(AR) Curtis Parker absolutely, for the USBA title. He just got inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. He was a wonderful fighter. I might have fought the wrong fight, I should have been using my jab more. But I wanted to prove to the world that I could take a punch, that’s what I did wrong. I still won the fight. That was my toughest fight as well. It was called the fight of the year by Randy Gordon of Ring Magazine.

(SM) Was there ever a world title fight against Marvin Hagler in the works?

(AR) I was actually the one who got Hagler ready for John “The Beast” Mugabi. They talked about it back then, but it never happened. Hagler was a great guy, he’s my buddy. I appreciate him so much as an athlete and as a real trainer. There was a time when I said that he was the guy I wanted to be. When I sparred with him I knew I had to be in great shape or he was gonna kick my ass. I was in the best shape ever when I was his sparring partner. Hagler taped all his sparring sessions and there is a day I will never forget. Hagler told me that I really looked good in the ring that day. I really felt he meant it. When we were preparing for Mugabi, his main sparring partners were myself and Bobby Patterson, a top middleweight. When we got to Las Vegas the last week before the fight, they gave me a week’s vacation? That made me feel real good. Hagler even thanked me after the fight. I was just thrilled to be in the ring with Hagler.

(SM) What happened in your last fight, against Jorge Castro?

(AR) I’m thirty-three years old by then. I really wasn’t living correctly at that time. I went to Argentina and everything seemed great, I trained hard. There were these Secret Service type guys working for Castro who watched my every move. Anywhere I went, they followed. But I went there thinking I could still win a title at that age. I got hit with a body shot like I have never been hit with before. It wasn’t that he was a great puncher, but he was a little more confident and had some good power and was younger. That body shot just paralyzed me.

(SM) Any thoughts of ever making a comeback?

(AR) You know there are always thoughts of a comeback. But my comeback is what I do now with the Retired Boxers Foundation.

(SM) How did the Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) get started?

(AR) I got the idea when I went to a fundraiser for Sharron Stone. It was for a charity called Planet Hope. After that event I guess I got the bug, and realized that maybe I could do something for the sport and my brothers in boxing. Anyway I met Jacquie Richardson at a grand opening of a youth boxing gym and someone put the two of us together. Jacquie was a grant writer and a fundraiser and also had experience working with at risk kids, gang prevention, substance abuse prevention and intervention. It was kind of a perfect match of skills and interest. We have worked together since 1998 to try and help retired fighters in anyway we can. Not every fighter makes millions of dollars. You hear stories about Joe Louis dying penniless and I could go on and on naming fighters who ended up that way. There has to come a time in life when you care. Fighters risk their lives in the ring, we all did. God has blessed me in many ways. Jack Dempsey, the year before I was born, was trying to do what I am doing today. I’m gonna die doing this, helping my brothers in anyway I can. I may not have anything financially to show for it and I don’t care about that. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, I’m gonna leave this earth doing the right thing. We have people all over the world helping us out.

(SM) What kind of help do you offer fighters?

(AR) We offer financial support, help with disability and SSI issues. We go to court for fighters that need legal help. We offer help with housing, whatever they need. We have tax lawyers, doctor’s, and have such a great group together working for us and the fighters.

(SM) How many fighters would you say you have helped over the years?

(AR) Probably a couple hundred I think. We are the only foundation out there truly helping retired fighters. People can say what they want about me but I’m still doing the right thing.

(SM) Where do you get your funding?

(AR) We have fundraisers. Were also having our annual golf tournament. We need donations from anyone. If it wasn’t for Ron Shelton, we wouldn’t be here right now. Ron is a movie director. He gave us $50,000 over five years to be able to do this. An unbelievable guy! Were also working with family members of Denny Moyer, former Light Middleweight champ, about their personal story and the danger of second impact syndrome(fighting while concussed). We also have a song we are trying to produce. Do you remember Quincy Jones “We Are The World”? I got something similar to that and all the money will go to the fighters. I don’t care if I die today, as long as we get this song recorded. I am relentless in this cause. I work 24/7 for it. I don’t make money from it, but I will not stop working for it and the fighters.

(SM) Do many current or former fighters contribute to RBF?

(AR) You would think that with all the money being made out there that current fighters would want to do something for their sport. There all good people but they don’t contribute. You would think that with a foundation that is going to help their own, the fighters would help out the retired fighters who need it. But the sad thing is they don’t do it. When a lot of fighters raise money for charities, you never hear our foundation mentioned ever as a recipient. Our foundation has little money right now to operate on.

(SM) Any final words or anything else for the readers/fans out there?

(AR) I want to tell the fans and you Shawn that I sincerely thank you for any support you can give. Whatever story you bring out, good or bad, just tell people about us. God I’m trying! We’ve been in existence for over ten years and we struggle and I get upset at times. But God bless the fans out there. See us at www.retiredboxers.com .

WRITERS NOTE: I also spoke with the Retired Boxers Foundation Executive Director Jacquie Richardson. She seems to also share a passion for this foundation. She however repeatedly spoke of the tireless effort and absolute dedication that Alex Ramos has for the foundation and his fellow fighters. I was also very disturbed that few fighters out there ever contribute to this cause. I would encourage people to check out their website, www.retiredboxers.com .