VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Alex Ramos: The epitome of a fighter

Alex Ramos: The epitome of a fighter

Through life's trials, Ramos has emerged with a smile on his face
Publish Date: 06/18/2022
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

I have wanted to write an article about Alex Ramos since I met him a couple of years ago but didn’t know where I wanted the article to lead. Now I do.

Often, you hear about punch drunk or down-on-their-luck boxers, which is relevant when discussing retired fighters. You watch a guy get beat, then you go on social media and see people calling them “bums” or a myriad of other words that denigrate them and their profession. I realize that when I see a person comment on a boxer being a bum or something like it, that person is not a true fan and more often than not, that guy is just sitting behind a screen and has never sparred competed in their lives. If they did, they would realize that boxers have uncommon courage they don’t possess. Yes, even the guy that comes into the ring with a record of 10-27 has a bravery that these keyboard warriors could never understand.

Every fighter I have talked to has a unique story through the years of doing our “Boxing Legends Show“. Sometimes these are stories of triumph, but more often, they are tales of what might have been more often. The saga of Alex Ramos is a little of both, but in the end, it is a story of a man who has triumphed through his hardships.

Check out the top Sportsbook Bonuses for Betting on Boxing

BetMGM
1.
Favicon
4.6/5
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
2.
Favicon
4.6/5
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to Bet365
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
3.
Favicon
4.5/5
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
PointsBet
4.
Favicon
4.5/5
5 x $50Bet Credits
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
BetRivers.com
5.
Favicon
4.5/5
100% up to $500
Virginia
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+

One of the superb amateurs of all-time

Alex got his start going to Gil Clancy’s gym on 28th Street in New York and immediately liked the sport. He was an outstanding fighter early and won four Golden Gloves titles, which were huge back in the 1970s. He caught the eye of soon-to-be promoter Shelly Finkel and was Finkel’s first signing. Ramos stayed with Finkel from the age of 16 until after his 1984 defeat at the hands of James Kinchen.

Ramos accumulated 143 amateur wins, scoring an incredible 132 KOs. Amateur boxing was prominent in the ’70s and ’80s, and Alex was a regular on ABC’s old “Wild World of Sports”, where he scored spectacular knockouts over the best the Cubans and Russians had to offer.

Then came the turbulent year of 1980. Ramos beat future legend Mike McCallum in a close fight. That win would ultimately save Ramos’ life, as a loss would have sent him to a show in Poland. That flight eventually became one of the deadliest airplane trips in sports history. The plane would crash, killing every American boxer on it. When I asked Alex about the event and its effect on him, he said, “It was tough to take; that could have been me. I was friends with a lot of those fighters, and it had a serious effect on me.”

USA Boxing Coach Sarge Johnson passed away in that crash, and Alex said Johnson was “A great coach.”

1980 Summer Olympics and what could have been

Before the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets held an amateur tournament that the USA got clearance from then-president Jimmy Carter to attend. Alex was the star of the show, winning the Misha Trophy as the tournament’s most outstanding boxer. Ramos seemed poised for Olympic superstardom, much like Leonard, Davis and the Spinks brothers from the 1976 Montreal Olympic team. But fate, or should I say politics, reared its ugly head, robbing Alex and his other teammates of their chance for Olympic fame. Can you imagine Ramos going to Russia and beating the Russian and the Cuban fighter to win Olympic Gold? His career would have gotten a fantastic boost, but it was not to be.

Tomorrow’s Champions

It wasn’t all a lost cause as NBC Sports gave him a nice contract to be a part of Tomorrow’s Champions, along with Johnny Bumphus, Bobby Czyz, Tony Tucker, etc. Most of his fights early in his career were televised on NBC’s old Sportsworld show, and everything seemed to be moving along smoothly until Alex fought what he thought to be no-hoper by the name of Ted Sanders. Ramos admits he did not prepare appropriately for that fight and would surprisingly lose to Sanders.

A rematch was set up with Sanders, and Ramos would train with strict disciplinarian Janks Morton, who helped prepare the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard. Alex says that he was in the best shape of his life and was ready to go. The only catch was Ted Sanders decided not to show up for this nationally televised rematch. Not only did Ramos lose out on getting his rematch, to make matters worse, but he also wasn’t even paid for the fight even though he had done nothing to cause the cancellation.

Instead of giving Alex time to recover from a brutal training camp, a new fight was set up with the durable Tony Cerda. Alex was over-trained and not in the best frame of mind for the fight, and the fight ended up being an ugly draw.

A shot at the title

1984 looked likes Alex’s year when he beat highly-ranked Curtis Parker. A title shot against Champion Marvin Hagler seemed as if it was within reach. That quickly disappeared as Ramos fought the young up and coming prospect John Collins to a draw and then suffered a defeat at the hands of James Kinchen. Again, he was distracted by both.

Ramos would lose to Michael Nunn (Michael Runn to Alex). The last fight of his career was for a middleweight title in Argentina against Jorge Castro. Alex was stopped early in the battle with a devastating kidney shot.

Check out the top-ranked sportsbooks!

BetMGM
4.6/5
BetMGM Review
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet365
4.6/5
Bet365 Review
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
4.5/5
Caesars Review
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site

Transition to retirement

When Alex talks of his losses in the ring and not being prepared, he doesn’t talk like it’s an excuse; he talks of those times as a man that wonders what might have been. If you see his amateur fights, they will make you wonder that also because there was a time when Alex Ramos was an exceptional fighter.

Alex mentions Jacquie Richardson and how she saved him from living on the streets. They started an organization called the Retired Boxers Foundation to help fighters who have hung up the gloves. Retired boxers have no pension, no insurance etc., and a lot of old fighters end up destitute with nobody to care for them. Alex and Jacquie have made it a goal to help as many of those fighters out as they can, and I have talked to Jacquie before, and the love she has for these fighters is unquestionable. Alex lives in a one-bedroom apartment, and his monthly income is from SSI.

Check out the top sportsbooks for betting on boxing

BetMGM
4.6/5
BetMGM Review
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet365
4.6/5
Bet365 Review
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
4.5/5
Caesars Review
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site

From reading the story of Alex Ramos’ life, you would think that he would be bitter, possibly self-loathing, as many who have so many bad breaks are. Some are self-imposed, and some are entirely beyond their control. Alex Ramos is not one of those guys. As soon as you hear Alex’s voice on the phone, the smile almost jumps out of the phone at you. Alex is a man who is not bitter about the course his life has taken; he is a man that wants to help others who have had to go through what he has gone through. I wish everyone could meet Alex Ramos because he is the definition of a fighter. Boxers are a special breed that goes into a ring in shorts, shoes, gloves and nothing else in front of thousands of people, and in that arena, all of a man’s flaws are exposed. But so are his positives. With Alex Ramos, the good far outweighs the bad.

As a boxer, Alex Ramos fell short of the hype, but he has overcome that and learned to live with it and what’s more critical is Alex wants to help those less fortunate than he find that same peace that he has achieved.

Alex Ramos truly is the epitome of a fighter.

 

Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
Tommy Morrison and AIDS: The Truth about what happened
Tommy Morrison burst onto the professional boxing scene in 1988. Following a ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
BetMGM Promo
Michael Nunn and Iran Barkley Discuss Their Bout, Bob Arum, and the Four Kings
Mountains to Climb, Pebbles in Your Shoe “I always say that was ...
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
The Twilight Rounds: Rod Serling explores the dark side of boxing – Round eight
Legend has it that Archie Moore was originally cast in the role ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
Day 5: 2 bonus packages $25 = 30,000 LC + 30 SC, $100 = 120,000 LC + 120 SC
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: Can’t Knock The Hustle 
Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo put it all ...
Was the 1918 World Series Between the Red Sox and Cubs Fixed?
Everybody knows about the 1919 World Series and ...
Betting Tips
09/30/2023 - 11:30 am
Mohegan Sun Arena
Tip:
Sun to win from 2-0
-120.00
FanDuel
09/30/2023 - 12:00 pm
Folsom Field
Tip:
USC to Cover
-21.50
FanDuel
09/30/2023 - 12:00 pm
Texas Memorial Stadium
Tip:
Kansas to Cover
16.50
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Cincinnati Bearcats on the Prowl: Cincinnati vs BYU Preview and Oklahoma recap
Cincinnati Bearcats on the Prowl: Cincinnati vs BYU Preview and Oklahoma recap
Video: College Football Prediction show: Notre Dame vs Duke Preview and prediction!
College Football Prediction show: Notre Dame vs Duke Preview and prediction!
Video: NFL Best Betting Show: Picking all Week 4 games againt the Spread!
NFL Best Betting Show: Picking all Week 4 games againt the Spread!
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
Day 5: 2 bonus packages $25 = 30,000 LC + 30 SC, $100 = 120,000 LC + 120 SC
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.6/5
Caesars
Caesars
Caesars Review
4.5/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
$100 Second Chance Bet
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into “The Grueling Truth” sports shows, “Where the legends speak”

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site