Mando Ramos

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]

Mando Ramos
Statistics
Real nameArmando Ramos
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach71+1⁄2 in (182 cm)
Born(1948-11-15)November 15, 1948
Long Beach, California, United States
DiedJuly 6, 2008(2008-07-06) (aged 59)
San Pedro, California, United States
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights49
Wins37
Wins by KO23
Losses11
Draws1

Professional career

Mando Ramos turned pro at age 17 using a forged birth certificate. 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 Hiroshi 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 . 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 fight. He was the world's highest paid teenager and his purses were larger than anyone but Muhammad Ali's. 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]

Professional boxing record
49 fights 37 wins 11 losses
By knockout 23 6
By decision 14 4
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Age Location Notes
49 Loss 37–11–1 Wayne Beale TKO 2 (10) Oct 29, 1975 26 years, 348 days Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
48 Win 37–10–1 Antonio Leyva TKO 7 (10) Oct 15, 1975 26 years, 334 days Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
47 Win 36–10–1 Tony Martinez UD 10 Sep 2, 1975 26 years, 291 days Red Carpet Inn, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
46 Loss 35–10–1 Tony Martinez SD 10 Jul 30, 1975 26 years, 257 days Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
45 Loss 35–9–1 Wolfgang Gans TKO 5 (?) Jul 12, 1974 25 years, 239 days Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain
44 Loss 35–8–1 Wolfgang Gans KO 2 (?) Jun 3, 1974 25 years, 200 days Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
43 Win 35–7–1 Arpad Magyar KO 4 (?) May 16, 1974 25 years, 182 days Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany
42 Win 34–7–1 Mi Whan Kim TKO 2 (8) May 10, 1974 25 years, 176 days Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
41 Draw 33–7–1 Jaroslav Travnik PTS 8 May 4, 1974 25 years, 170 days Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
40 Loss 33–7 Arturo Pineda TKO 5 (10) Aug 9, 1973 24 years, 267 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
39 Loss 33–6 Chango Carmona TKO 8 (15) Sep 15, 1972 23 years, 305 days Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Lost WBC lightweight title
38 Win 33–5 Pedro Carrasco SD 15 Jun 28, 1972 23 years, 226 days Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Retained WBC lightweight title
37 Win 32–5 Pedro Carrasco SD 15 Feb 18, 1972 23 years, 95 days Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Won WBC lightweight title
36 Loss 31–5 Pedro Carrasco DQ 12 (15) Nov 5, 1971 22 years, 355 days Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain For vacant WBC lightweight title
35 Win 31–4 Ruben Navarro UD 10 Sep 30, 1971 22 years, 319 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
34 Win 30–4 Raul Rojas TKO 6 (10) Dec 10, 1970 22 years, 25 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
33 Win 29–4 Sugar Ramos SD 10 Aug 6, 1970 21 years, 264 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
32 Loss 28–4 Ismael Laguna TKO 9 (15) Mar 3, 1970 21 years, 108 days Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring lightweight titles
31 Win 28–3 Raton Palacios UD 10 Jan 13, 1970 21 years, 59 days Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
30 Win 27–3 Yoshiaki Numata KO 6 (15) Oct 4, 1969 20 years, 323 days Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring lightweight titles
29 Win 26–3 Jerry Graci TKO 7 (10) May 20, 1969 20 years, 186 days Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
28 Win 25–3 Carlos Teo Cruz TKO 11 (15) Feb 18, 1969 20 years, 95 days Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring lightweight titles
27 Win 24–3 Beau Jaynes TKO 2 (10) Dec 12, 1968 20 years, 27 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
26 Win 23–3 Billy Coleman TKO 3 (10) Oct 29, 1968 19 years, 349 days Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
25 Loss 22–3 Carlos Teo Cruz UD 15 Sep 27, 1968 19 years, 317 days Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, U.S. For WBA, WBC, The Ring lightweight titles
24 Win 22–2 Hiroshi Kobayashi UD 10 Jun 20, 1968 19 years, 218 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
23 Win 21–2 Phil Garcia KO 9 (10) May 2, 1968 19 years, 169 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22 Win 20–2 Frankie Crawford UD 10 Feb 1, 1968 19 years, 78 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
21 Loss 19–2 Frankie Crawford MD 10 Oct 5, 1967 18 years, 324 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
20 Win 19–1 Eliseo Estrada TKO 5 (10) Sep 14, 1967 18 years, 303 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19 Win 18–1 Alex Luna TKO 2 (10) Aug 15, 1967 18 years, 273 days Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
18 Loss 17–1 Kang Il Suh UD 10 Jul 6, 1967 18 years, 233 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Len Kesey TKO 5 (10) Jun 22, 1967 18 years, 219 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Pete Gonzalez UD 10 Mar 30, 1967 18 years, 135 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Ray Echevarria UD 10 Jan 12, 1967 18 years, 58 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Al Franklin KO 4 (10) Nov 28, 1966 18 years, 13 days Oakland Arena, Oakland, California, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Al Franklin UD 10 Nov 17, 1966 18 years, 2 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Allen Syers TKO 5 (10) Oct 13, 1966 17 years, 332 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Jorge Baby Salazar UD 10 Sep 8, 1966 17 years, 297 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Manny Linson KO 2 (10) Aug 11, 1966 17 years, 269 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Ray Coleman TKO 6 (10) Jul 21, 1966 17 years, 248 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Joey Aguilar KO 8 (10) Jul 7, 1966 17 years, 234 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Jerry Stevens KO 1 (6) Jun 23, 1966 17 years, 220 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Bosco Basilio UD 6 May 12, 1966 17 years, 178 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Jose Barrera KO 2 (6) Mar 17, 1966 17 years, 122 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Fidel Cruz KO 3 (5) Mar 3, 1966 17 years, 108 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Berlin Roberts KO 1 (5) Jan 27, 1966 17 years, 73 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Chuey Loera KO 4 (4) Dec 2, 1965 17 years, 17 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Berlin Roberts PTS 5 Nov 18, 1965 17 years, 3 days Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

See also

References
  1. "Boxer Mando Ramos dies at 59". USA Today. 2008-07-07.
  2. "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 7 November 1990.
  3. "Mando Ramos: . I Did Love the Cheers of the Crowd | Karl Hegman". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  4. "Mando Ramos - BoxRec".
  5. "Falleció Campeón Mundial Mando Ramos". www.notifight.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2010-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Falleció ex campeón mundial Armando "Mando" Ramos". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  8. "Armando Ramos". 10 May 2009.
  9. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 7 July 2008.
  10. "ARMANDO RAMOS | the Boxing Republic". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  11. "L.A. Great Mando Ramos Gone At 59 | TheSweetScience.com Boxing". www.thesweetscience.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07.
  12. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 14 January 1997.
  13. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. February 2000.
  14. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 25 December 1988.
  15. "Boxer Mando Ramos".
  16. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 7 February 1991.
  17. "Boxeo: Muere Mando Ramos, el rival de Pedro Carrasco - inicio . Es". Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  18. "Mando Ramos: 1948-2008". 7 July 2008.
  19. "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 9 July 2008.
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