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.”
Terrazas pulls surprise at stae Golden Gloves Ramos Boxing Team earns Outstanding Team
trophy and 2 Outstanding boxer awards at 2010 Regional Golden Gloves tournament.
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.”
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.”
New course adds punch to Palo Alto curriculum
Published: 12:00 a.m., Saturday, January 15, 2011
Learning the ABC's of boxing has never been a problem in this town. If you have the desire and devotion necessary
to survive, there's no shortage of gyms
and coaches available to teach the basic fundamentals of the sport.
But now, for the first time, you can get college credit for it.
Palo Alto College is offering Boxing 101.
Beginning this semester, students at the South Side campus will be taught everything from the proper stance and
footwork to the basics of delivering a
punch and how to avoid them.
Officially, it's called Boxing Conditioning I, a non-contact course designed to help students develop strength,
endurance and flexibility while improving body
composition. Boxing technique is a byproduct.
Students completing the elective course receive one physical education credit toward one of two associate degrees
the two-year community college offers in
kinesiology.
The teacher is Arturo Ramos, a well-known coach and former boxer who has taught the basics of boxing at his South
Side gym ever since he retired from
the ring in 1999.
Ramos doesn't have a college degree, but he's a graduate of the school of hard knocks, having been in nearly 150
sanctioned bouts — amateur and pro —
since he was a youth.
Even so, he admits to being a bit nervous about entering the academic arena.
“I'm used to organizing workouts,” Ramos said. “Now all of a sudden I'm having to do things like preparing a syllabus,
give tests and take attendance. But I'm
excited about it.”
Anna Bustamante is, too. She's the head of the department of kinesiology and health at Palo Alto and the person
who helped Ramos design the course and
get it approved.
That took a little doing. Boxing's reputation as a brutal, bloody sport often precedes it, and Alamo Colleges
administrators had to be convinced the course
wouldn't give the school — or, literally, any of its students — a black eye.
“They wanted to make sure it was non-contact,” Bustamante said.
The daughter of a former Air Force boxer, Bustamante is counting on it. She's enrolled in the course, too.
“I told Arturo I wanted an ‘A,'” she said jokingly.
But Bustamante wasn't kidding when she suggested the class can have a positive impact in the areas of health and
fitness, in helping to develop good
nutritional habits and prevent chronic disease, issues confronting our community every day.
The course came about almost by accident. Juan Aguilera, Palo Alto's strength coach and an instructor at the
school, began training at Ramos' gym and
liked what he saw.
“Have you ever thought about teaching this in college?” Aguilera asked.
Before long, Ramos became Professor Ramos. The course filled up before it was officially posted, and beginning
Tuesday, 25 students get their first taste
of the sweet science.
Ramos is already dreaming of a level II and III class, where students can work the mitts, pound the heavy bag and —
yikes! — maybe even trade punches
inside a ring.
Bustamante said that's far down the road, and even then there likely would have to be plenty of protective padding
and “no hitting in the head.”
She said the school has offered a cardio kickboxing course for several years, and the only contact comes in the form
of students striking hand-held pads.
That's OK by Ramos, who's just happy to be part of academia and doing his part to change the image of the sport.
“There's a lot of negativity surrounding boxing,” he said. “I'm happy to be able to do something positive for it.”
jwhisler@express-news.net