Aggressive, exciting fighter, was a big prospect at one time, but never really fulfilled expectations after being clobbered by the aging but always classy Laguna. I suppose you could compare that fight a bit to Hopkins-Pavlik, in which a red hot young fighter gets embarrassed by an "old man" and never fully regains his luster.
I don't think Ramos was embarrassed in any way, shape or form by Laguna M2S. Laguna was ahead, but that was a super competitive battle, marred only by cuts, something which plagued Ramos throughout his career. Had it not been stopped on a cut it's not out of the question that Ramos could have come back and won that one. Unlikely? Perhaps. But he was IN that fight. For sure. Ramos actually had some real good boxing skills but tended to brawl too much which got him into a lot of trouble. I actually think he looked best in the Laguna fight. He was in great shape there and was boxing very effectively. It's just a pity the fight had to end in such a way.
A REAL FIGHTER: A wunderkind. Attitude-in-the-street, balls-to-wall standup boxer/puncher, fierce, flashing combinations, power in both hands, and tissue paper skin around his eyes. He was box office magic in California. The amazing part was: He was so special and exciting and never trained or fought day when he wasn't drunk or high.
Found this write-up at Boxrec. Scartissue 1970-03-03 : Ismael Laguna 135lbs beat Mando Ramos 134½lbs by TKO in round 9 of 15 Location: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA Referee: Lee Grossman 6-3 Judge: Dick Young 5-4 Judge: John Thomas 5-3 "Elusive Ismael Laguna of Panama won the world lightweight championship Tuesday night when titleholder Mando Ramos could not continue after nine rounds because of eye cuts. The Panamanian's jabbing tactics opened cuts over both eyes of the champion and he bled so profusely his manager Jackie McCoy asked referee Lee Grossman to halt the fight. After an even first round Laguna opened the first cut in the corner of the champion's left eye. Ramos' handlers managed to stem the flow for several rounds and Ramos had an edge through the first five rounds. In the ninth round Laguna's jabs caught Ramos' right eye which also began bleeding and the Panamanian easily piled up points as Ramos had difficulty seeing. It was then McCoy decided to halt the fight." -United Press International Unofficial scorecards through 9 rounds UPI - 4-2 Laguna Long Beach Press-Telegram - 5-3 Laguna Attendance - 15,577 Gate - $150,081.50 Purse - $100,000 Ramos Purse - $10,000 Laguna Post fight comments "He couldn't see very well out of the left eye and when he got cut over the right eye, I decided it would be best to get him out of there. He's just a 21 year old and I figured we'll get him next time." -Jackie McCoy, Ramos' manager "You know, they (Ramos and McCoy) had a contract to fight us in Panama and they ran out on it. We're thinking more about Pedro Carrasco of Spain." -Cain Young, Laguna's manager, on a proposed rematch "It would seem to me that Ramos is the logical guy." -Don Chargin, Olympic Boxing Club matchmaker, exercising the Olympic's option on Laguna's first title defense
Mando was Very popular!!! To say the least!! One thing Mando should have moved up to welter,he always starved self. I heard McCoy wanted him to stay light limit.Everybody knows Mando never trained properly.Mando was hard puncher,imajine him at welter properly trained, vs.Cokes,Espada, he would have been hard to beat!!atsch
Glad to see another Ramos fan.. There's a small boxing gym that's run by a Church around Torrance and I used to talk to Ramos all the time prior to his death..RIP.. That man was full of wisdom, so much knowledge. Even as an old man, he would bully alot of youngsters during sparring.. I was simply in awe by this man. IT's sad how a great fighter like him rarely gets any mention on this forum.
The sad sad thing, G, was that fans only got a GLIMPSE of the potential --- as exciting as that was -- that, in my estimation, would've made him one of the ATGs. As a TEENAGER, he was a terror -- totally loaded every day-- 130 pounds soakin' wet -- he showed more class, fire and skill, flattening everyone in an out of the gym.
nice to hear i love your stories from the years spent in boxing gyms. you really speak highl;y of this guy and taht means alot (to me anyway)
