Mando Ramos
Mando Ramos | |
|---|---|
| Born | Armando Ramos November 15, 1948 |
| Died | July 6, 2008 (aged 59) |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Reach | 71.5 in (181.6 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 49 |
| Wins | 37 |
| Wins by KO | 23 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Armando Ramos (November 15, 1948 – July 6, 2008) was an American professional boxer[1] and the former two-time WBC and WBA Lightweight Champion.[2] He was born in Long Beach, California.[3] Armando "Mando" Ramos was one of the most popular fighters in Southern California during the 1960s.[4] Ramos was an outstanding amateur.[5]
Professional career
Mando Ramos turned pro at age 17 using a forged birth certificate.[citation needed] Mando went on to fight the main event at the Olympic Auditorium by his 8th pro fight.[6] At the age of 18 Mando defeated the reigning Jr. Lightweight Champ, Japan's Yoshiro Kobayashi, in a non-title bout. When offered a re-match for the title, Ramos refused to fight for a 'Junior' title.[7]
World Lightweight Champion
He demanded to fight dangerous Lightweight Champ Carlos Ortiz—Ortiz, who had dominated the division for over a decade.[8] Negotiations were in place, but Ortiz was upset by 'Teo' Cruz and so Ramos took the fight to the new champ, narrowly losing in a decision. Ramos won the re-match via KO to become the youngest Lightweight Champion in history.[9] Cruz would only live 11 more months. He died in a plane crash on January 1970 alongside the Puerto Rican national women's volleyball team at the Dominicana DC-9 air disaster.
When a Mando Ramos fight was held in Los Angeles, movie stars such as John Wayne, Bill Cosby, Kirk Douglas, Liz Taylor and Connie Stevens attended [citation needed]. Women caught Mandomania, and Hollywood loved 'The Wonder Boy'.[10][11]
Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Jackie McCoy,[12] Ramos fought ten World title fights, was a two-time champion and earned millions of dollars. Whilst Mickey Mantle and Joe Namath earned 100k per season, Ramos was earning 100k per night. He was the world's highest paid teenager[citation needed] and his purses were larger than anyone but Muhammad Ali's[citation needed]. McCoy stated Mando was the most naturally talented fighter he had ever seen in his life.[13]
Retirement
Tough fights, drugs, and alcohol put the brakes on his career. By age 24 Ramos was out of boxing.[14] With the aid of his wife, Sylvia Van Hecke, Ramos became clean and sober over his last three decades.[15] He founded a non-profit youth organization---B.A.A.D.--boxing against alcohol and drugs— and coached, mentored, and trained inner-city at-risk youths.[16][17]
Mando Ramos died suddenly at his home in San Pedro, California on July 6, 2008.[18][19]
References
- ^ https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2008-07-07-1365129743_x.htm
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-07/sports/sp-3680_1_long-beach-memorial-medical-center
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Mando_Ramos
- ^ http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Falleci_Campe_n_Mundial_Mando_Ramos.php
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.myboxingfans.com/2009/05/armando-ramos/
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/07/local/me-ramos7
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/6045/great-mando-ramos-gone/
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-14/sports/sp-18408_1_jackie-mccoy
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/01/sports/sp-59984
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-25/sports/sp-1387_1_mando-ramos
- ^ http://www.convictedartist.com/mando_ramos.html
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-07/news/ti-674_1_mando-ramos
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.badlefthook.com/2008/7/7/566121/mando-ramos-1948-2008
- ^ https://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/09/opinion/oe-rutten9
External links
- Mando Ramos at IMDb
- Boxing record for Mando Ramos from BoxRec (registration required)