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Please Pray for Alex Ramos.Champion for all
ex-fighters - now fighting for his own life.
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
August 30, 2008 |
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Hundreds of phone calls each year come into the
(805) 955-9064 home of former USBA middleweight champion Alex Ramos. MOST are
from current or retired boxers that have fallen on hard times.
MANY of these calls from Alex's boxing brothers can't or won't even be followed
up with a "thank-you" call after receiving that much desired help, yet one thing
is for sure…ALL these calls will be answered.
Since forming the Retired Boxers Foundation in 1995, proudly serving as the
non-profit organization's president since day one, Alex Ramos has devoted his
life
to helping his fellow retired boxers in need.
While having to rely on miniscule funds raised from not enough fundraisers and
donations, the "RBF" has been able to literally come to the aid of thousands of
hurting fighters. This was as much a part due to the relentless efforts of the
committed five-time New York Golden Gloves champion, as it was to his infectious
smile, his warm personality and gigantic, lovable heart; which drew many willing
resources from outside boxing.
Surprisingly, and embarrassingly, support from within boxing - a sport and
business that Ramos has embraced since he first entered a Bronx gym, along with
his father, at the age of eleven - has been virtually non-existent.
The RBF's Executive Director Jacquie Richardson, a Simi Valley governmental
worker, is the backbone of the organization.
One of the many RBF hats that Richardson dutifully wears is that of "Surrogate
Mother" to the forty-seven year-old former middleweight contender who sometimes
needs to be prodded to takes his pills, make his scheduled doctor visits, or
simply insist on his taking a much needed walk if the always-hyper Ramos's
stress level soars while spending countless hours manned at his computer
answering the endless drove of emails.
"Mama Jacquie" as she is affectionately called sensed something wasn't right,
after not hearing from Alex since Thursday evening and realizing his email had
not been checked for close to fifteen hours. Those of us dearly close can expect
calls usually every fifteen minutes!
Nervously calling upon Alex's apartment complex manager, a conscientious check
found Ramos unconscious, barely breathing and in near-death condition. Rushed to
a nearby hospital and feverishly worked on for over an hour in order to be
resuscitated, Ramos spent the day in critical condition with a grim prognosis.
After battling for many hours Alex has been transferred to the Intensive Care
Unit. He is currently on a respirator; his condition has been stabilized, but
has not regained consciousness and is in a drug-induced coma, to rest his brain.
Latest word is that Alex's eyes are following the direction of light from his
doctor's flashlight and they may plan to take him off the respirator sometime
tomorrow, although he is still unconscious.
Alex Ramos is a credit to boxing and has been a shining star of hope for so many
downtrodden warriors who had mistakenly thought that they were forgotten…NOW is
their time to say "THANKS".
We all need to help Alex, with our prayers and our hope.
I haven't met anyone, in or out of boxing, who is so dear, so genuinely warm and
caring, and so deeply motivated and passionate for the cause, as Alex. I love
him like a brother, and hope you will say a prayer for Alex Ramos.
Thank you.
Mike Indri can be contacted at
RBFNJMIKE@aol.com |
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