Biography
- Twitter: @RAMIREZBOXING
- 2012 U.S. Olympian (amateur), 132 pounds…
- 2012 U.S. National Championships (amateur), 132 pounds - Gold Medalist…
- 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials (amateur), 132 pounds - Gold Medalist…
- 2011 U.S. National Championships (amateur), 132 pounds – Gold Medalist…
- 2010 U.S. National Championships (amateur), 132 pounds – Gold Medalist…
- 2009 U.S. Junior National Championships (amateur), 125 pounds – Gold Medalist…
Only 20 years old, Jose made his pro debut on December 8. A sensational Méxican-American prospect at 135 pounds, he is a former international amateur standout - he represented the United States in the 2012 Olympics and was considered the crown jewel of the U.S. Olympic team.
He also competed in the 2011 World Championships, and won several U.S. national amateur championships, as well.
Jose is a former No. 1-rated amateur lightweight in the U.S., and surpassed multi-division world champions Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Shane Mosley to become USA Boxing’s all-time lightweight record holder.
His trophy case glistens with gold including: U.S. Olympic Team Trials Champion (2012), National Champion (2010-2011), Junior Olympic National Champion (2010-2011) and USA Boxing National Champion (2011.)
Jose started boxing at the age of eight and had 156 amateur fights, with a record of 145-11.
He is coming off a first-round TKO win against Charles Dubray in his last fight on March 30.
After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: Ramirez had a tremendous amateur career that culminated with a berth on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. He was highly sought after when he decided to go pro after the Olympics and signed with Top Rank….
Ramirez has size, speed and power, especially with his left hook. Like any prospect, he needs to work on a few things and gain experience. Ramirez did what he was supposed to do, which is blast him out and do it quickly. He dropped Dubray twice, including with a punishing body attack before [the] referee waved it off at 1 minute, 6 seconds following the second knockdown.
Ramirez will stay busy like most Top Rank prospects, which means fighting roughly every month for the near future. [End Rafael item]
Jose made his professional debut on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV main event on December 8 in Las Vegas, and won by first-round TKO against Corey Seigwarth.
From the Hanford (California) Sentinel [Nov. 9, 2012 - escerpts]: Avenal boxer Jose Ramirez is turning pro.
The 20-year-old Olympian has signed a contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank….
“I feel very blessed to have the team that I have around me and that Top Rank will make my team even stronger,” said Ramirez in a news release. “I feel I’m in great hands with Top Rank and they care about their fighters.”
“We are ecstatic to sign Jose Ramirez to a promotional contract,” said Arum, Top Rank’s founder and CEO. “We considered Jose to be the leading prospect among the fighters comprising the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team.”
Ramirez, born into humble roots as a son of farm workers, started fighting at the Kings Boxing Club in Avenal at age 8.
He worked his way to the top of the amateur ranks while attending Avenal High School and Fresno State, as well as working as a barista at Starbucks.
Ramirez’s management team, which includes his godfather and coach, Armando Mancinas, and manager Rick Mirigian, stated their pleasure with joining Top Rank.
“Jose’s fan-friendly style of fighting – always on the attack and throwing lots of punches – is a perfect fit for Top Rank,” said Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler. “We have very high expectations for him.” [End Sentinel item]
In February, Jose signed a sponsorship contract with Nike footwear and apparel - Jose will wear branded Ramirez apparel, including robe, trunks, and training gear, as well as the shirts his cornermen will wear at his fights.
