Alex Ramos - Professional Boxing Career

Professional Boxing Career

Ramos began his professional boxing career on November 8, 1980 by defeating Steve Arvin by a fifth round knockout in Stateline, Nevada.

Ramos won his first five fights by knockout. These bouts included four fights in the eastern United States and one in Texas. On March 28, 1981, in Syracuse, New York, Dan Snyder became the first boxer to go the scheduled distance with Ramos, who beat Snyder by a six round decision.

On May 23, 1981, Ramos had his first professional fight abroad when he beat Donnie Long by an eight rounds decision in San Remo, Italy. His next fight, on June 21 of the same year, marked his Atlantic City debut, when he defeated Mike Sacchetti, also by an eight rounds decision. Ramos would fight in Atlantic City several times during his career.

Ramos won six more fights, including a victory over Norberto Sabater, before suffering his first loss, being knocked out in round eight by Ted Sanders on August 18, 1982 in Atlantic City. He then fought Tony Cerda to a ten round draw (tie) on December 22.

After those two setbacks, however, Ramos became a ranked middleweight by virtue of three straight victories, including a ten round decision over future world light-heavyweight champion J.B. Williamson on May 1 in Atlantic City. Despite losing his next fight, against future world super middleweight champion Murray Sutherland by a ten round decision, Ramos was by then held along with the highest ranked middleweights of the era, such as Mustafa Hamsho, Wilford Scypion, Juan Roldán, John Mugabi, Curtis Parker and others.

After knocking out Wilbur Henderson in three rounds on February 8, 1984 in Atlantic City, Ramos challenged Parker for his first career title, the regional, United States Boxing Association Middleweight championship. He won the title by beating Parker over twelve rounds by a unanimous decision on April 25 of that year, in Atlantic City.

A world title fight against Marvin Hagler probably loomed ahead for Ramos after his victory over Parker. Many fans in the United States took interest in Ramos thanks in part to coverage by such magazines as the Ring and KO, and his career was also covered in Puerto Rico by newspapers such as El Nuevo Dia and El Vocero. A ten-round draw against fringe contender John Collins, however, proved to be the first obstacle for that match to take place. The second, and arguably largest, obstacle for Ramos to challenge Hagler for the World Middleweight Championship came when he lost his USBA Middleweight title, on November 24, by a knockout in round nine against James Kinchen (who years later lost to Thomas Hearns over twelve rounds in a WBO world title bout) in Stateline.

In 1984, Ramos relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.

After losing to Kinchen, Ramos got back on the contender's list by winning four out of his next five bouts, which included victories over J.J. Cotrell and former Thomas Hearns challenger Fred Hutchings, whom he knocked out in five rounds on August 16, 1986, in Stockton, California.

This victory gave him a try for the California state middleweight title, held by future world champion Michael Nunn. The two boxers met on November 21 in Reseda, with Nunn gaining a twelve round decision.

After winning two of his three next fights, and after Nunn had vacated the belt, Ramos got a second chance to win the California win. This time, he was knocked out in eight rounds by Tim Williams.

After another victory, Ramos got his third chance at the California Middleweight title, being outpointed by Alphonso Long after twelve rounds on February 3, 1988.

Ramos won ten of his next twelve bouts over the next six years, finally earning him a shot for another middleweight title. On November 5, 1994, he fought Jorge Fernando Castro in Argentina for the WBA Middleweight title. He defeated Ramos by a second round knockout. Ramos is now retired.