South side gym lights the way.
John Whisler - John Whisler
Web Posted: 08/01/2010
Walk into Ramos Boxing Team gym on the South Side on any given evening, and the first thing you notice is the darkness.Only a few bare bulbs
illuminate the place, which would make it hard to read or write or do much of anything, it seems. But then you notice the activity. Lots of it.The
room is wall-to-wall boxers of every size, shape and skill level, punching, grunting, jabbing at their images in a mirror and pounding the heavy
bags. It's hot — real hot — but everyone seems oblivious to it.
A converted air-conditioning repair shop, the gym has become one of the biggest and busiest in the city in recent years. Not to mention, one of the
most successful.At the 2010 San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves Tournament, the Ramos Boxing Team won the open division title, outstanding
novice boxer and team sportsmanship awards. RBT boxers win more than their share of trophies at tournaments all over the country.
This year, middleweight Kevin Terrazas won local and state Golden Gloves titles on the way to the national tournament in Little Rock, Ark. “We try
to help kids conquer their fears,” owner Arturo Ramos said, attempting to explain the gym's success. “It's hard getting up there in the ring, with all
those eyes on you. Boxing teaches you a lot. It teaches you about preparation, about dedication. And it builds self-esteem.”
A 1995 McCollum graduate, Ramos, 34, has been a fixture in the local boxing community for 20 years. He fashioned a 112-17 record as an
amateur, winning two open-division national titles and three more as a junior.
From 1990-95, he was a member of the U.S. national select team and ranked in the top five in the nation as a light welterweight. He competed for
the U.S. team at the 1995 World Championships in Berlin, along with Antonio Tarver, Lawrence Clay-Bey, Eric Morel, Diego Corrales and Floyd
Mayweather Jr. Considered a top prospect, Ramos turned pro in 1995, signing with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and earning a $30,000
signing bonus. But he fought only 13 times in five years, finishing with a 10-1-2 record and six knockouts.
Fed up with the business side of boxing, Ramos retired in 1999 at age 23 to focus on his gym.
It sits on 11/2 acres that Ramos purchased with some of his bonus money after he turned pro.
The property included a corrugated metal building that he transformed into the gym.
Over the years, he's expanded it, pushing out walls and throwing up beams. Ramos has 25-30
boxers, mostly amateurs, who show up on a regular basis.
His parents and two brothers, Hector and Mike, both professional boxers, help run the gym.
Ramos even has his own website as well as his own van to transport his teams to tournaments.
This week, he'll be taking 10 boxers to the 2010 Ringside World Championships in Kansas City, Mo.
Ramos requires boxers to pass rigorous skill and conditioning tests in order to compete.
The team raised $2,782 in a barbecue plate sale to help cover expenses for the trip. Some of the boxers' mothers plan to go along to serve as
cooks in an effort to save money.
“It's a very family-oriented gym,” said Celina Salazar, 21, who is 3-0 as a pro and has been coming to the gym for seven years. “Everybody knows
everybody and watches out for each other.”
Said Cresencio Ramos (no relation), 15, who's been coming to the gym for eight years: “It's pretty exciting. We get to travel a lot, to places like
Arkansas, Oklahoma, California. Arturo always has us well prepared, wherever we go.”
John Whisler - John Whisler
Web Posted: 08/01/2010
Walk into Ramos Boxing Team gym on the South Side on any given evening, and the first thing you notice is the darkness.Only a few bare bulbs
illuminate the place, which would make it hard to read or write or do much of anything, it seems. But then you notice the activity. Lots of it.The
room is wall-to-wall boxers of every size, shape and skill level, punching, grunting, jabbing at their images in a mirror and pounding the heavy
bags. It's hot — real hot — but everyone seems oblivious to it.
A converted air-conditioning repair shop, the gym has become one of the biggest and busiest in the city in recent years. Not to mention, one of the
most successful.At the 2010 San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves Tournament, the Ramos Boxing Team won the open division title, outstanding
novice boxer and team sportsmanship awards. RBT boxers win more than their share of trophies at tournaments all over the country.
This year, middleweight Kevin Terrazas won local and state Golden Gloves titles on the way to the national tournament in Little Rock, Ark. “We try
to help kids conquer their fears,” owner Arturo Ramos said, attempting to explain the gym's success. “It's hard getting up there in the ring, with all
those eyes on you. Boxing teaches you a lot. It teaches you about preparation, about dedication. And it builds self-esteem.”
A 1995 McCollum graduate, Ramos, 34, has been a fixture in the local boxing community for 20 years. He fashioned a 112-17 record as an
amateur, winning two open-division national titles and three more as a junior.
From 1990-95, he was a member of the U.S. national select team and ranked in the top five in the nation as a light welterweight. He competed for
the U.S. team at the 1995 World Championships in Berlin, along with Antonio Tarver, Lawrence Clay-Bey, Eric Morel, Diego Corrales and Floyd
Mayweather Jr. Considered a top prospect, Ramos turned pro in 1995, signing with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and earning a $30,000
signing bonus. But he fought only 13 times in five years, finishing with a 10-1-2 record and six knockouts.
Fed up with the business side of boxing, Ramos retired in 1999 at age 23 to focus on his gym.
It sits on 11/2 acres that Ramos purchased with some of his bonus money after he turned pro.
The property included a corrugated metal building that he transformed into the gym.
Over the years, he's expanded it, pushing out walls and throwing up beams. Ramos has 25-30
boxers, mostly amateurs, who show up on a regular basis.
His parents and two brothers, Hector and Mike, both professional boxers, help run the gym.
Ramos even has his own website as well as his own van to transport his teams to tournaments.
This week, he'll be taking 10 boxers to the 2010 Ringside World Championships in Kansas City, Mo.
Ramos requires boxers to pass rigorous skill and conditioning tests in order to compete.
The team raised $2,782 in a barbecue plate sale to help cover expenses for the trip. Some of the boxers' mothers plan to go along to serve as
cooks in an effort to save money.
“It's a very family-oriented gym,” said Celina Salazar, 21, who is 3-0 as a pro and has been coming to the gym for seven years. “Everybody knows
everybody and watches out for each other.”
Said Cresencio Ramos (no relation), 15, who's been coming to the gym for eight years: “It's pretty exciting. We get to travel a lot, to places like
Arkansas, Oklahoma, California. Arturo always has us well prepared, wherever we go.”
Terrazas pulls surprise at state Golden Gloves.
Ramos Boxing Team earns Outstanding Team
trophy and 2 Outstanding boxer awards at 2010
Regional Golden Gloves tournament.
Ramos Boxing Team earns Outstanding Team
trophy and 2 Outstanding boxer awards at 2010
Regional Golden Gloves tournament.
S.A. boxer Terrazas going to nationals
Express-News -
Published: 11:33 p.m., Saturday, March 6, 2010
South Texas has a new state Golden Gloves champion, but it’s not the boxer most people expected.
Kevin Terrazas defeated Marchristopher Adkins of Dallas 4-1 to win the 165-pound title Saturday night in the finals of the Texas
State Golden Gloves championships at John Justin Arena in Fort Worth.
Terrazas now qualifies for the national Golden Gloves tournament May 3-8 in Little Rock, Ark.
The favorite in the 114-pound division, South Texas’ Adam Lopez, was upset 3-2 by Oscar Cantu of Corpus Christi.
- John Whisler
In the co-main event, Celina Salazar (3-0) remained unbeaten with a close, hard-fought majority decision over Christina Ruiz (2-
2, 1 KO) in a four-round battle of San Antonio featherweights.
Ruiz appeared to be the heavier puncher, but Salazar won with superior boxing skills. Scores were 39-37 twice and 38-38.
"I just followed the game plan," Salazar said. "My training really paid off."
South Side sluggers set to square off
Christina Ruiz is scheduled to take on Celina Salazar in a four-round featherweight bout tonight at the San Antonio Event Center. The match is the co-
main event on a seven-bout card.
Published: 10:28 p.m., Wednesday, December 16, 2009
After winning three amateur tournaments a year ago, Christina Ruiz decided enough was enough.
"I told myself I'm going to stop going for trophies and try to make some money," Ruiz said.
The 2004 Jay graduate turned pro this past summer, winning two of three fights and gaining a bit of a reputation as a woman who prefers brawling to
boxing.
The next test comes tonight when Ruiz (2-1, 1 KO) takes on Celina Salazar (2-0) in a battle of female fighters from South Side gyms.
The four-round fight is the co-main event on a seven-bout card at the San Antonio Event Center. Originally scheduled for Dec. 5, the show was
postponed because of inclement weather and an illness to local prospect James Cantu.
Now healthy, Cantu (4-0, 3 KOs) takes on Jerron Lockette (3-13-2) of San Antonio in the main event, a six-round, junior welterweight bout.
Ruiz, 24, won the San Antonio Regional Golden Gloves title in February 2008, where she was named outstanding female boxer. She followed that by
winning the Texas Games that summer and the LBC tournament in December.
After winning her first pro bout by TKO in June, Ruiz was stopped by Amanda Serrano in July in Atlantic City, N.J. But she rebounded with a solid win
over Lisa Lamb of Houston in October.
"My confidence was down a little after I lost," said Ruiz, who trains at Emilio Ledezma's Team Azteca gym in Von Ormy. "But it's back now. I want to be
the best."
Like Ruiz, Salazar has a history of winning.
In 2005, she won the local Golden Gloves and national Ringside tournaments en route to a 10-4 amateur record.
Trained by Arturo Ramos at his South Side gym, Salazar decided to turn pro in 2007 but didn't make her debut until April of this year when she beat
Lamb in Dallas. Her other win came against Dallas' Yvonne Rodriguez in September in San Antonio.
A 2007 graduate of McCollum, Salazar expects a tough fight against Ruiz.
"I know she's real aggressive," said Salazar, 21. "I expect her to come out real strong."
The fight will be contested at 125 pounds.
"She's from here. I'm from here," Ruiz said. "We both have a lot of fans. It's going to be a great fight."
'Night of the Rising Stars'
What: Professional boxing card
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: San Antonio Event Center, 8111 Meadow Leaf, off Marbach Road and Loop 410
Who: James Cantu of San Antonio vs. Julio Cesar Rangel of Dallas, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Celina Salazar of San Antonio vs. Christina Ruiz
of San Antonio, 4 rounds; five other bouts.
Ramos Boxing Team: Building
men, not fighters
April 3rd, 2011 3:41 am CT .
by Joseph Heron from Examiner.com
In this life, we are all blessed with the profound privilege and expectation to be the best person we can be and to serve as a positive influence for
those who surround us. We realize that the legacy we leave behind will serve as a guide for generations to come, and a touchstone for those who
observe history. We have this honorable duty as a member of society. The ripple effect of our actions today spread so far and wide into the future, in
ways that we sometimes can’t begin to comprehend.
Ten kids from the Ramos Boxing Team, from the ages of 10 through 16, are traveling to Kingsville, TX, to compete in the Junior Olympics next
weekend.
This is the ripple effect of one man’s struggle in Laredo, TX, to put food on his family’s table.
Arturo Ramos Jr started boxing for money when he was just eight years old in Laredo, TX, and 49 years later, he and his sons, Arturo III, Mike, and
Hector, all run the Ramos family legacy: Ramos Boxing Team at 522 Moursund Blvd.
In 1969, the Ramos family moved from Laredo to San Antonio because Arturo Sr had developed a serious illness and had to be hospitalized in the
“Alamo City”. When Arturo Ramos Sr had passed on, the Ramos family decided to stay in San Antonio, and Arturo Jr began to coach boxing
voluntarily in his spare time, developing his coaching skills.
In 1975, Ramos became the head boxing coach at the Calderon Boys Club, currently the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio at 600 SW 19th on the
west side of the city, and cultivated a true love for the craft of boxing. Through the sport of boxing, Arturo Jr was discovering his ability to reach out to
kids and nurture characteristics that would serve them well throughout life…one person at a time, Arturo Ramos Jr was transforming inner city
children into responsible adults.
“My son (Arturo III) and I used to walk to Calderon Gym, which is on 19th street, all the way from Nogalitos and Interstate 35 every morning and back
home every night at 9 o’clock,” states Arturo jr. “It was tough, but putting in the time with the kids was worth it. That investment is still paying off,”
laughs Ramos.
His ability to cultivate prospects was extended to his children, beginning with Arturo Ramos III, who experienced great success as an amateur and
a professional.
“Arturo was a six time National champion and went pro in 1995,” proudly states Arturo Jr. “He did well but he didn’t want to deal with the politics
involved with the business of boxing so he left the sport professionally.”
With his earnings as a professional, Arturo III paid off all of his parent’s bills, and placed a down payment on the property where the gym sits today.
Hector Ramos bought the property next to Arturo III, and Team Ramos currently uses his backyard as a training facility.
“When he left professional boxing, Arturo (III) started working with the kids,” states Arturo Jr. “He started doing such a good job that I just let him take
over training the kids who want to compete.”
When asked why he bought into the family business, the 35 year old unleashed his pearls of wisdom and stated, “If you find a job that you love, you
won’t work another day in your life.”
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Truer words were never spoken, and the Ramos Boxing Team serves as a living testament to this lexis. It’s obvious to anyone who steps foot
inside the Ramos gym that the family does it for the love of the sport and each other. Their motivation for greatness is truly one of nobility.
“My sons, my wife, and my daughter are here every day…this is our life and we love it,” declares Arturo Jr. “I work with the kids and spend time with
the entire family…what could be better?”
Good question.
Arturo Ramos III points out what he loves about the Ramos boxing program.
“I enjoy getting a novice in here that doesn’t know a “left hook” from a “fish hook”, and then teaching them the nuances of the sport and seeing them
progress,” states the former professional boxer. “You can see their confidence rise, their performance in school improves, and their overall
happiness increases.”
On April 8th, 9th, and 10th, Team Ramos is being represented at the Junior Olympics, which takes place at J. K. Northway Coliseum at Dick
Kleberg Park, 501 E. Escondido Road, Kingsville, TX 78363,with ten fighters in various weight classes and age groups:
Gregory Morales – 75 lbs – 10 yrs
Julian Ramos – 80 lbs – 10 yrs
Chris Martinez – 80 lbs – 12 yrs
Pete Contreras – 100 lbs – 13 yrs
Jimmy Martinez – 119 lbs – 15 yrs
Victor Trevino – 110 lbs – 14 yrs
Ramon Cardenas – 110 lbs– 15yrs
Jason Ramos – 114lbs – 14 yrs
Cresencio Ramos – 125 lbs – 16 yrs
Christian Santibanez – 132 lbs – 16 yrs
These boxers have been training for months in preparation for this event and plan on enjoying every second of this experience.
Team Ramos just completed a fund raising effort and generated almost $1,000.00.
“It’s enough to pay for transportation, meals, and lodging,” states Arturo III. “We’ll have fun competing.”
Ramos emphasizes the importance of competition.
“The spirit of competition teaches important lessons that these kids will take with them through life,” explains Arturo III. “When a person competes
and represents Team Ramos, they know that they have to work hard to earn a victory.”
“Nothing is free in this world…you have to work hard to achieve your goals.”
The work that the Ramos Boxing Team is doing for the city of San Antonio is inspiring and worthy of much more recognition than it receives.
Arturo Ramos III sums it up perfectly.
“Seeing our fighters grow up to be good people is recognition enough.”