| Ramos Boxing Team in the News |
For a complete review of this years Regional Golden Gloves click link and visit
VIEW FROM THE CORNER
Top five Texas amateurs
(with national ranking)
Name Hometown Division Rank
1. Luis Yanez Duncanville light flyweight 1 Comment: Excellent boxer, smart with fast hands and determined. Has
won three national titles this year — his first in open division.
2. Jerry Belmontes Corpus Christi lightweight 5 Comment: Moves well, fast and very good counter puncher.
3. Sergio Perales Los Fresnos featherweight 7 Comment: Aggressive boxer with good jab.
4. Joseph Rosendo Lubbock middleweight 8 Comment: Aggressive, power puncher, but needs to improve boxing
skills.
5. Hector Ramos San Antonio light welterweight 1 Comment: Ex-Air Force boxer has matured into all-around talent.
Top five Texas amateurs
(with national ranking)
Name Hometown Division Rank
1. Luis Yanez Duncanville light flyweight 1 Comment: Excellent boxer, smart with fast hands and determined. Has
won three national titles this year — his first in open division.
2. Jerry Belmontes Corpus Christi lightweight 5 Comment: Moves well, fast and very good counter puncher.
3. Sergio Perales Los Fresnos featherweight 7 Comment: Aggressive boxer with good jab.
4. Joseph Rosendo Lubbock middleweight 8 Comment: Aggressive, power puncher, but needs to improve boxing
skills.
5. Hector Ramos San Antonio light welterweight 1 Comment: Ex-Air Force boxer has matured into all-around talent.
Travis boxer ready to take on world
Senior airman Hector Ramos will join the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program with a focus on the 2008 Olympics.
THE REPORTER - Vacanville, California.
(link to story)
By Derek Wilson/Sports Writer - April 2, 2006
Senior airman Hector Ramos has earned his ticket home - but he's not ready to leave the U.S. Air Force just yet. He has some unfinished
business to take care of. Ramos is proud to be the first member of his family to serve in the military, though being stationed at Travis Air
Force Base far away from his family in Texas, has at times been hard on the 24-year-old. Now, he'll get a chance to be closer to home after
extending his commitment to the Air Force for another two years. Officials enticed Ramos to extend his tenure with an offer he couldn't
refuse. Ramos is expecting to be transferred to San Antonio as part of the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program while he prepares to
compete for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing squad. The program takes select servicemen and women and puts them in an
environment to train for elite competition, such as the Olympic Games. The program includes training for track and field, judo and other
competitive sports.
Senior airman Hector Ramos will join the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program with a focus on the 2008 Olympics.
THE REPORTER - Vacanville, California.
(link to story)
By Derek Wilson/Sports Writer - April 2, 2006
Senior airman Hector Ramos has earned his ticket home - but he's not ready to leave the U.S. Air Force just yet. He has some unfinished
business to take care of. Ramos is proud to be the first member of his family to serve in the military, though being stationed at Travis Air
Force Base far away from his family in Texas, has at times been hard on the 24-year-old. Now, he'll get a chance to be closer to home after
extending his commitment to the Air Force for another two years. Officials enticed Ramos to extend his tenure with an offer he couldn't
refuse. Ramos is expecting to be transferred to San Antonio as part of the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program while he prepares to
compete for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing squad. The program takes select servicemen and women and puts them in an
environment to train for elite competition, such as the Olympic Games. The program includes training for track and field, judo and other
competitive sports.
Senior airman Hector Ramos will leave Travis Air Force Base to focus more on boxing. (Joel Rosenbaum/The Reporter)
"San Antonio is one of my home towns. That's where I'm from. That's where I started boxing," said Ramos, while he took a break from
training at JL Boxing, a small gym in a warehouse just five miles off base in Fairfield.
Ramos comes from a family with strong roots in boxing. His father, Arturo Ramos Jr., never competed, but still loved the sport. Arturo
Ramos III, Hector's older brother, was a six-time national amateur champion.
"We still have a photo of me walking around a gym in Pampers when I was 3," Hector Ramos said.
"I was always hanging around the gym. My whole family loves boxing," he continued. "My dad wanted to box, but his father didn't approve, so
he just sparred."
The 141-pound Ramos admits that watching his brother's success in the ring pushed him to be "better than my brother. I never wanted to
be just as good as him. I always wanted to be better."
Thus began the journey of Hector Ramos. There were a few forks in the road along the way, most importantly, his decision to enter the
military.
"I saw an Armed Forces boxing show and thought that would be a good move," Ramos said. "With the Air Force, maybe I get to box, and I
get an education and job training. If I just go pro, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Then what do I have?"
So, Ramos has spent the last couple of years splitting time between his duties as an aerospace propulsion technician on base, and his
passion for boxing in the gym. The balancing act hasn't always been an easy one. Trying to find time to hit the speed bag before being sent
out on an assignment at another domestic, or European
base, can be difficult for someone so dedicated to boxing.
"I used to try to take some time and train at the gym on base, but I had to bring all my own equipment and there's no ring there," Ramos
said. "I'd have to set up my bag, bring my stereo and make sure the music is all timed right for my workout and I'd spend 20 minutes
getting ready before I could start training."
The Air Force doesn't give Ramos much time to pursue amateur fights, although he has represented his branch of the service the last two
years in the Armed Forces Championships. He beat Marine Corps. Sergeant Eric Canales for the gold medal in February at the Ventura
County Naval Base.
"The Marines and the Army, they're all the 'tough' branches of the service, out there on patrol all the time. They're high-profile," Ramos said.
"They have year-round training programs. The Air Force doesn't, for some reason. I love to go in there and beat them. Every time I get in the
ring, I want to be the best."
One fighter Ramos has had trouble with is Karl Dargan, who beat Ramos in the U.S. Championship finals at the USA Boxing headquarters
in Colorado Springs, Colo., in March. Dargan, of Philadelphia, beat Ramos in the semifinals last year en route to the title.
That's where the lanky 6-foot-1 southpaw met Mario L'Esperance, who owns JL Boxing and works with Ramos. L'Esperance is pursuing
his own Olympic dreams of becoming a coach with Team USA.
"I saw Hector and thought, 'He's just another skinny kid. I'm not gonna waste my time on him,"' L'Esperance recalled. "Everyone knew who
he was, though. And he really impressed me.
"He's a great kid and a great boxer. He's smart and he's quick. It's a chess match watching him. He just stands back and waits, then
makes his move. His move is so fast that it just knocks you for a loop. He's so smart, it's like he's playing chess."
L'Esperance says Ramos has all the tools, despite a slight lack of power, to be an Olympic champion. Training under the World Class
Athlete Program will accelerate Ramos' progress.
"My time here was up, but when I got this chance, I just had to take it," Ramos said. "I'll be focusing just on boxing and getting ready for the
2008 Olympics. This is what I've dreamed of my whole life."
training at JL Boxing, a small gym in a warehouse just five miles off base in Fairfield.
Ramos comes from a family with strong roots in boxing. His father, Arturo Ramos Jr., never competed, but still loved the sport. Arturo
Ramos III, Hector's older brother, was a six-time national amateur champion.
"We still have a photo of me walking around a gym in Pampers when I was 3," Hector Ramos said.
"I was always hanging around the gym. My whole family loves boxing," he continued. "My dad wanted to box, but his father didn't approve, so
he just sparred."
The 141-pound Ramos admits that watching his brother's success in the ring pushed him to be "better than my brother. I never wanted to
be just as good as him. I always wanted to be better."
Thus began the journey of Hector Ramos. There were a few forks in the road along the way, most importantly, his decision to enter the
military.
"I saw an Armed Forces boxing show and thought that would be a good move," Ramos said. "With the Air Force, maybe I get to box, and I
get an education and job training. If I just go pro, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Then what do I have?"
So, Ramos has spent the last couple of years splitting time between his duties as an aerospace propulsion technician on base, and his
passion for boxing in the gym. The balancing act hasn't always been an easy one. Trying to find time to hit the speed bag before being sent
out on an assignment at another domestic, or European
base, can be difficult for someone so dedicated to boxing.
"I used to try to take some time and train at the gym on base, but I had to bring all my own equipment and there's no ring there," Ramos
said. "I'd have to set up my bag, bring my stereo and make sure the music is all timed right for my workout and I'd spend 20 minutes
getting ready before I could start training."
The Air Force doesn't give Ramos much time to pursue amateur fights, although he has represented his branch of the service the last two
years in the Armed Forces Championships. He beat Marine Corps. Sergeant Eric Canales for the gold medal in February at the Ventura
County Naval Base.
"The Marines and the Army, they're all the 'tough' branches of the service, out there on patrol all the time. They're high-profile," Ramos said.
"They have year-round training programs. The Air Force doesn't, for some reason. I love to go in there and beat them. Every time I get in the
ring, I want to be the best."
One fighter Ramos has had trouble with is Karl Dargan, who beat Ramos in the U.S. Championship finals at the USA Boxing headquarters
in Colorado Springs, Colo., in March. Dargan, of Philadelphia, beat Ramos in the semifinals last year en route to the title.
That's where the lanky 6-foot-1 southpaw met Mario L'Esperance, who owns JL Boxing and works with Ramos. L'Esperance is pursuing
his own Olympic dreams of becoming a coach with Team USA.
"I saw Hector and thought, 'He's just another skinny kid. I'm not gonna waste my time on him,"' L'Esperance recalled. "Everyone knew who
he was, though. And he really impressed me.
"He's a great kid and a great boxer. He's smart and he's quick. It's a chess match watching him. He just stands back and waits, then
makes his move. His move is so fast that it just knocks you for a loop. He's so smart, it's like he's playing chess."
L'Esperance says Ramos has all the tools, despite a slight lack of power, to be an Olympic champion. Training under the World Class
Athlete Program will accelerate Ramos' progress.
"My time here was up, but when I got this chance, I just had to take it," Ramos said. "I'll be focusing just on boxing and getting ready for the
2008 Olympics. This is what I've dreamed of my whole life."
Ramos, Gover could turn into city's Olympic hopefuls
Web Posted: 03/26/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
They are the names that resonate throughout the city's rich amateur boxing history:
Tony and Johnny Moreno, Mike Ayala and brothers Sammy and Tony Jr., Javier Alvarez and Danny Rios, just to name a few.
In recent years, it has been Gabriel Elizondo and Raul Martinez who reigned as kings of the headgear league.
Today, our two best are a couple of southpaws, Hector Ramos and Jonathan Gover.
Will we finally have an Olympian in 2008?
If the Morenos and Ayalas and all the great amateurs San Antonio has fielded over the years never made the U.S. Olympic team, you wouldn't figure Ramos
and Gover will make it, either.
But not so fast.
If the recently completed regional, state and national tournaments told us anything, it's that San Antonio amateur boxing is in good shape for the future.
Maybe not as good as it was 20 or 30 years ago, but not bad, either.
At 24, Ramos figures to have the best shot of making the Beijing Games.
Ramos is a boxer who seems to understand, perhaps better than anyone we have had in recent memory, what it takes to win at the international level.
Straight and accurate punches that are easy for the judges to see and score.
Ramos' main problem will be getting past Karl "Dynamite" Dargan, who beat Ramos in the finals of the 141-pound weight class at the U.S. Championships in
Colorado Springs, Colo.
It was the second-straight national title of Philadelphia's Dargan, who beat Ramos in the semis last year.
To get to the Olympics, there's always one guy you have to get past to make it.
For Ramos, it's clearly Dargan.
Ramos lost an 11-5 decision this time. He trailed 2-1, 3-2 and 8-3 after the first three rounds.
"We were all shocked in the corner that I gave up five points in that round," said Ramos, who ended 2005 ranked No. 4 by USA Boxing. "I don't know where
they came from."
A senior airman stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., Ramos was set to separate from the military next month, but was offered a spot in the Air Force's world-class
athlete program.
This will allow Ramos to train as a boxer full time over the next two years and return to Lackland as his home base.
"Now I can pursue my dream of making the Olympics," he said.
Provided he can get past Dargan, he just might do it.
Gover, on the other hand, might be a long shot for 2008. He could be a better bet for 2012.
He is just 18 years old. Gover finished 2005 ranked No. 2 in the nation at 132 pounds.
Web Posted: 03/26/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
They are the names that resonate throughout the city's rich amateur boxing history:
Tony and Johnny Moreno, Mike Ayala and brothers Sammy and Tony Jr., Javier Alvarez and Danny Rios, just to name a few.
In recent years, it has been Gabriel Elizondo and Raul Martinez who reigned as kings of the headgear league.
Today, our two best are a couple of southpaws, Hector Ramos and Jonathan Gover.
Will we finally have an Olympian in 2008?
If the Morenos and Ayalas and all the great amateurs San Antonio has fielded over the years never made the U.S. Olympic team, you wouldn't figure Ramos
and Gover will make it, either.
But not so fast.
If the recently completed regional, state and national tournaments told us anything, it's that San Antonio amateur boxing is in good shape for the future.
Maybe not as good as it was 20 or 30 years ago, but not bad, either.
At 24, Ramos figures to have the best shot of making the Beijing Games.
Ramos is a boxer who seems to understand, perhaps better than anyone we have had in recent memory, what it takes to win at the international level.
Straight and accurate punches that are easy for the judges to see and score.
Ramos' main problem will be getting past Karl "Dynamite" Dargan, who beat Ramos in the finals of the 141-pound weight class at the U.S. Championships in
Colorado Springs, Colo.
It was the second-straight national title of Philadelphia's Dargan, who beat Ramos in the semis last year.
To get to the Olympics, there's always one guy you have to get past to make it.
For Ramos, it's clearly Dargan.
Ramos lost an 11-5 decision this time. He trailed 2-1, 3-2 and 8-3 after the first three rounds.
"We were all shocked in the corner that I gave up five points in that round," said Ramos, who ended 2005 ranked No. 4 by USA Boxing. "I don't know where
they came from."
A senior airman stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., Ramos was set to separate from the military next month, but was offered a spot in the Air Force's world-class
athlete program.
This will allow Ramos to train as a boxer full time over the next two years and return to Lackland as his home base.
"Now I can pursue my dream of making the Olympics," he said.
Provided he can get past Dargan, he just might do it.
Gover, on the other hand, might be a long shot for 2008. He could be a better bet for 2012.
He is just 18 years old. Gover finished 2005 ranked No. 2 in the nation at 132 pounds.
Boxing: Ramos romps to easy Golden Gloves repeat
Web Posted: 02/26/2006 12:12 AM CST
John Whisler
Express-News Staff Writer
Hector Ramos has all the tools. He's tall, quick and experienced. His punches are crisp and straight — a must in international competition.
The Air Force boxer is perhaps San Antonio's best bet to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, if he can conquer his biggest opponent —
himself.
"He has the physical attributes," Air Force coach Ron Simms said. "It's all about confidence now."
If Saturday is any indication, Ramos is a step closer to Beijing. The senior airman beat Fernando Diaz in the light welterweight finals to
earn his second-straight San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves title.
About 700 fans at KellyUSA's Bennett Fitness Center saw champions crowned in 11 open-division weight classes.
The 11 qualified to compete in the state Golden Gloves tournament, Wednesday-Sunday in Fort Worth.
Ramos, 24, a San Antonio native who is stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., forced Diaz into three standing-eight counts before the referee
stopped the bout 20 seconds into the third round.
"We met in the finals last year and I won," said Ramos, the younger brother of Arturo Ramos, a successful amateur and pro during the
1990s. "I just boxed and did what I had to do to win."
But not all is lost for Diaz. Because the U.S. Championships are March 6-11 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Ramos has elected to skip the
state Golden Gloves tournament.
Diaz, 21, the younger brother of San Antonio pro Oscar Diaz, will go in his place.
Two other Air Force boxers won titles Saturday. Andre Penn won the open welterweight championship. Rodney Ellison won unopposed in
the open light-heavyweight division.
Penn and Ellison will join Ramos in Colorado. The runners-up in those divisions likely will represent the South Texas team in Fort Worth.
The other big names in local amateur boxing won titles Saturday, including brothers Jonathan and Justin Gover.
Jonathan Gover got knocked down by Jesse Santibanez of the Ramos Boxing Team — coached by Arturo Ramos — but all that did was
get Gover mad.
The southpaw, ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Boxing, got up and stopped Santibanez with powerful combinations at 20 seconds of the
third round.
Justin Gover, also of Eastside Boys & Girls Club, won a hard-fought 4-1 decision over Nick Perez of the San Antonio Parks & Recreation
team to win the 125-pound title. Joseph Rios of Angel's Boxing Club beat Eric Garza of Calderon Boys & Girls Club for the second straight
year to win the open bantamweight championship.
Web Posted: 02/26/2006 12:12 AM CST
John Whisler
Express-News Staff Writer
Hector Ramos has all the tools. He's tall, quick and experienced. His punches are crisp and straight — a must in international competition.
The Air Force boxer is perhaps San Antonio's best bet to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, if he can conquer his biggest opponent —
himself.
"He has the physical attributes," Air Force coach Ron Simms said. "It's all about confidence now."
If Saturday is any indication, Ramos is a step closer to Beijing. The senior airman beat Fernando Diaz in the light welterweight finals to
earn his second-straight San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves title.
About 700 fans at KellyUSA's Bennett Fitness Center saw champions crowned in 11 open-division weight classes.
The 11 qualified to compete in the state Golden Gloves tournament, Wednesday-Sunday in Fort Worth.
Ramos, 24, a San Antonio native who is stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., forced Diaz into three standing-eight counts before the referee
stopped the bout 20 seconds into the third round.
"We met in the finals last year and I won," said Ramos, the younger brother of Arturo Ramos, a successful amateur and pro during the
1990s. "I just boxed and did what I had to do to win."
But not all is lost for Diaz. Because the U.S. Championships are March 6-11 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Ramos has elected to skip the
state Golden Gloves tournament.
Diaz, 21, the younger brother of San Antonio pro Oscar Diaz, will go in his place.
Two other Air Force boxers won titles Saturday. Andre Penn won the open welterweight championship. Rodney Ellison won unopposed in
the open light-heavyweight division.
Penn and Ellison will join Ramos in Colorado. The runners-up in those divisions likely will represent the South Texas team in Fort Worth.
The other big names in local amateur boxing won titles Saturday, including brothers Jonathan and Justin Gover.
Jonathan Gover got knocked down by Jesse Santibanez of the Ramos Boxing Team — coached by Arturo Ramos — but all that did was
get Gover mad.
The southpaw, ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Boxing, got up and stopped Santibanez with powerful combinations at 20 seconds of the
third round.
Justin Gover, also of Eastside Boys & Girls Club, won a hard-fought 4-1 decision over Nick Perez of the San Antonio Parks & Recreation
team to win the 125-pound title. Joseph Rios of Angel's Boxing Club beat Eric Garza of Calderon Boys & Girls Club for the second straight
year to win the open bantamweight championship.