Former "contender" in the ring, now fighting like a Real Champion!
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
January 17, 2008

Alex Ramos today - still "fighting" to help retired boxers in need!

Growing up in the Bronx, Alex Ramos was always proud that he shared his January 17th birthday with legendary boxing world champion Muhammad Ali. Since the age of eleven, when Ramos began boxing as an amateur, he always dreamed that one day he himself might be considered "the greatest of all time". In those early dreams, Ramos, then a likable and charismatic teenager, who compiled an unbelievable 189 amateur victories (132 by knockout!), would always win an Olympic Gold Medal. Turning professional in 1980 at the age of nineteen, the highly touted "can't miss" prospect dreamt of one day earning the ultimate boxing prize - becoming a world champion!

No one needs to be told of the pugilistic accomplishments of the great Ali. Turning 66 years old today, Muhammad Ali has earned his place in boxing immortality. He fulfilled his dreams inside the squared circle; a remarkable career glittered with 1960 Olympic Gold and three heavyweight world championship belts.

Unfortunately for Ramos his boxing dreams were never realized. Definitely a dangerous opponent and always considered a very talented fighter, the four-time Golden Gloves Champion never reached the heights many expected out of one of the most prolific amateur boxers ever to come of New York. Fighting professionally for over ten years, Alex managed to compile a respectable career record of 39 wins, against 10 losses and 2 draws. Twenty-five of those wins came by way of knockout.

Nicknamed the "Bronx Bomber" for his wearing of Yankee pinstripes on his boxing trunks, Ramos did manage to capture a USBA middleweight title in 1984, defeating Philadelphia's Curtis Parker in a grueling twelve round battle.

Upon his retirement from boxing, Ramos, like too many other boxers, was to encounter his hardest fight of all. The cheering was to stop, his telephone would not be ringing and all his so-called friends, or "hangers-on" were moving on. This fight was for real, this was the one battle that counted the most; this was the fight of life!

Lucky for Alex Ramos, lucky for boxing and luckily for all retired fighters, the kid who at eleven years old was knocking out grown men in a boxing gym in the Bronx, could not and would not walk away from the sport he so dearly loved.

Without having obtained any "real life" skills, as well as battling depression and having to deal with the physical, emotional and mental hardships a career of hitting, and getting hit, in the head for a living brings, the outside world proved to be a very cold, scary and rough place for this unprepared, now retired boxer.

Determined to make a difference, Ramos founded the Retired Boxers Foundation, which was formally incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation. Helping hundreds of fighters each year, the "RBF" has been able to secure housing, services, rehabilitation and emergency assistance for these former great athletes.

Working daily to help restore the pride and dignity to all ex-fighters who have seemingly lost hope, helping others who are suffering financially and medically, or simply trying to get the word out to the young and current boxers so that they realize there are services available to help them keeps Ramos, Jacquie Richardson (the RBF Executive Director), and all the RBF volunteers extremely busy.

Unfortunately, too many of these fighters who have thrilled us all over the years face a dark and difficult retirement without any kind of pension, access to medical care or financial assistance. Whether fighting on HBO or SHOWTIME for a championship belt or at a local arena fighting a ham & egg four rounder makes no difference to Ramos and the RBF. "We are here for the fighters, you better believe that," proudly exclaimed Ramos, born to a schoolteacher mom and awning-maker dad. "I'm a fighter, and I'm going to die fighting for my brother fighters"!

That's the REAL FIGHT in Alex Ramos today.

Maybe it is true that Alex Ramos was never able to reach his full potential as a fighter, and he never did win any Olympic Gold Medal or get that world championship belt, but the Alex Ramos of today is a great person, a "world championship person", and is now winning the most important fight…the fight of life, and he is doing it for all the retired fighters in need.

I wish Muhammad Ali really knew what Alex Ramos and his Retired Boxers Foundation was doing for boxing, and for all the fighters. I'm sure that if he did, the great Muhammad Ali would be proud to be sharing his birthday with Alex Ramos… Happy Birthday to both World Champions!

If you would like to help the Retired Boxers Foundation, give Alex Ramos a call at (805) 390-7334. Wish him a happy birthday.

Mike Indri can be contacted at RBFMIKE@aol.com.