David Martinez Boxing

I am very saddened to report that former Lightweight Champion (my friend) Mando Ramos has passed away at his home in San Pedro.

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California Boxing Hall of Fame

Joe Louis, who had more successful title defenses (25) than any other heavyweight champion, heads up a list of twenty five inductees who will be enshrined into the California Boxing Hall of Fame for the year 2008.

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By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

I first met Armando (Mando) Ramos in the fall of 1969, when I drove
to Santa Monica to watch him train at the Surf Rider Hotel in his
preparation to defend his Lightweight title against Yoshiaki Numata.

What I saw was, not a fighter in serious training. Earlier that year
Ramos won the Lightweight Championship via knockout over Teo Cruz, to
become the youngest to win the Lightweight title at the age of 20 years
old.

But, to my surprise, I found trainer Jackie McCoy completely
frustrated with Mando and his lack of concentration in the gym. He
verbally chastised Mando and scowled at him for his poor training
practices. That was my initial contact with Mando Ramos, which was like
a teacher bawling out a student.

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