This week I had an opportunity to sit
down with Alex Ramos, the President of the
Retired Boxers Foundation,
who has also taken a position as Global Representative for the
Global Boxing Union (GBU).
He talked with me about the GBU.
S. Fox: Why don't you start out by laying out the background of why you
decided to get involved with the GBU?
A. Ramos: I got involved with the GBU through a very close friend,
Marcel Niessen who is out of Holland. I have known Marcel for many
years. He has always known that I have been involved with something
called the Retired Boxers Foundation which I have been trying to build
for quite sometime. Marcel has gotten a break in where he is in a
position to help me. So, he has given me a position with the GBU, as the
Global Representative. [The
complete GBU Board]
S. Fox: What do you envision will happen with the GBU?
A. Ramos: I believe that we will be a respectful boxing sanctioning
body...and I see it having male - female fights which is something that
is needed, and that is very important for the sport.
S. Fox: How do you think that the GBU will do with this upcoming re-
organization that is taking place? How do you think it will impact
women's boxing?
A. Ramos: I think that it will bring a big impact, I really pray that it
does. I believe there's going to be fights---everywhere.
S. Fox: How would you describe the position you have been assigned to as a Global Representative, what does that entail?
A. Ramos: As a Global Representative, I can assign other people to the
fights. I can assign other supervisors, which I am doing. It is a
wonderful thing for me to do this. Whether they are in New York, or one
is in Connecticut, Arizona, New Mexico, or east coast, or midwest
whatever part of the country the title fight is taking place. Just the
other day I assigned a former welterweight champion of the world, Milton
McCrory, who will be covering the Midwest. In Las Vegas we
have another USA representative, former bantamweight champion,
Wayne McCullough,
so I look forward to that. In addition, some of my duties would include
if I am at the fight to represent the GBU, be present at the
championship title fight, and supervising the title bout that includes
bringing the belt, keep the scores, collect the scores, presenting the
belt to the winner, etc. It is a wonderful job. It gives me an
opportunity to travel all over the world to do this.
S. Fox: I know you have been busy putting together this board, I will
bring up some of the important names involved with this, lets start out
with Jacquie Richardson...
A. Ramos: She's [Jacquie] the women's boxing chairwoman/ Ambassador for the GBU. She has been helping me with my organization, the Retired Boxers
Foundation (RBF). She has been my executive director for the RBF, and
her husband, her child, her family---they are like my blood family. I
can honestly say that. Reggie is the funniest man in the world...Sean
Connery. I call him "Sean Connery" (chuckle). He's cool.
S. Fox: You also added Jose Rivera...can you tell me about him?
A. Ramos: Jose Rivera was a three-time world champion. Rivera will be a
GBU Representative of the Northeast.
S. Fox: Then you have Juan Laporte?
A. Ramos: Juan Laporte was one of the best, the BEST featherweights,
junior lightweights champions of the world.
S. Fox: Then we had Milton McCrory?
A. Ramos: He [Milton] was a welterweight champion of the world. And then
we had Michael Bentt. We can't forget about my "brother"
Michael Bentt, he's an actor, and he starred
with Will Smith. He has done some wonderful work with Michael Mann, and
of course, he also played Sonny Liston...and then we have
Colonel Bob
Sheridan, and then we have Henry Hascup...
S. Fox: These are all GBU Representatives?
A. Ramos: Yes, that is right. The board is building, and I think it's
very important for us to start off with a good board, and to start off
correct.
S. Fox: One thing that I have noticed with the GBU and that is
impressing me in what you have done is that you are picking people for
the board who have been there, who have walked that path. Sometimes we
see people who know nothing about boxing on boards. With that said....my
question to you is do you feel that this will enhance what you are doing
with the GBU by using people that have extensive knowledge of the sport?
A. Ramos: That is what is going to make everything different. Sue, you
know...God is the one that makes everything happen. You understand? I am
going to tell you something. They are all world champions...ex-world
champions, all ex-world champions that are smart. Not one of them, God
forgive me...because there are a lot of fighters that can't do a lot of
things. And...God knows why I say that. I, myself have a little frontal
lobe damage, and right temporal damage, but of course I take medication
for that. You know that is how it is. But I feel that this is going to
prove to the sport that somebody is going to make something "STRONG".
Like you said....
S. Fox: Do you feel that it will add credibility?
A. Ramos: I feel that it has never been done. Sue, you've been around
boxing....it's never ever been done. Everybody on there...maybe you
gotta think about it a little...like who?....Jose Rivera...he fought
some bad scrappy little fighters...to be a three-time world champion...
somebody heard of your name once at least. Juan LaPorte, you know...in
an era you may not have heard of him. It's okay, there are some people
who remember him. Milton McCrory, a lot of people may or may not
remember him. That skinny son-of-a-gun was a welterweight champion of
the world until he fought Donald Curry. Michael Bentt, great fighter...
S. Fox: There are some federations out there right now, that when they
start out they seem to be on queue --they have world titles, continental
belts, Americas belts, different levels of belts...and now we are seeing
a trend with new additional named titles, for example...International,
Interim, super champion, etc. IS the GBU going to stay structured?
A. Ramos: We are staying structured. We are staying the same, and I want
to tell you something. The funny and yet sad thing about that is how can
you have "Super" "SUPER", and I say that with conviction. The word that
is truly needed is "Champion." And...I want to tell you this
sincerely----people can say whatever they want. In boxing there's always
been one champion. They have never had a "super" champion, they never
had a "greater" champion...They never had the "Most Gold" champion.
S. Fox: Are you real excited about this project with the GBU?
A. Ramos: Yes, I am. I am really excited. Because I know that we are
going to be real busy.
I would like to thank Alex Ramos, for taking the time to be
interviewed by WBAN. Alex was very candid during this [video'd]
interview and it was insightful to talk with someone as Alex, who has
done it ALL in boxing----inside and outside the ring in boxing.
It is obvious that Alex has had a great support family in his corner and
has had in his corner for 12 plus years, helping him through the highs
and lows throughout the prior years. Alex had expressed in great detail
to WBAN his appreciation and love for this family, his Executive
Director Jacquie Richardson, her husband Reggie, who continues to be a
major part in his life in Simi Valley, California.
What Jacquie Richardson has done alone----not only for Alex, but for the
Retired Boxers Foundation is worth a book in itself.
