Why some Pan Am Box offs winners are not going to the Games?

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 26 Jan 2007, 22:51

I heard that some US champions are not going to compete next week in Venezuela, in the first qualifier to the Pan Am Games of Rio de Janeiro '07.

I plan to be there with a young puertorrican team and was expecting to see all US champions but I heard at least 126lb. champ Rico Ramos and 141lb. champ Karl Dargan are not going to go.

Someone told me they didn't want to risk themselves at the Pan Am's because the first Olympic qualifier is so close to the Pan Am Games.

What do you guys think about this?

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 27 Jan 2007, 10:51

That's stupid. All other copuntries are sending their best teams, including the Cubans. Why would the US boxers be different? The international competitions will make them better prepared for the Olympics.

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 27 Jan 2007, 23:03

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 27 Jan 2007, 23:18

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 27 Jan 2007, 23:38

Boxers who compete at the elite level should always be in shape ready to go to an international competition. They might lose at a box-offs, but then the winner might get injured, sick, home-sick, or get into trouble. No matter the reason, the #2 and sometimes the #3/4 boxer gets to go instead.

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 28 Jan 2007, 00:20

Dennis,

Again you are right you never really know, you always need to be ready to go...

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 28 Jan 2007, 04:21

ringrat4life wrote:That is 100% not true... Rico Ramos did win to go to Pan Am's, but decided he didn't want to go... Why I have no idea, he must have gotten home sick... So Luis Del Valle will get the chance. The last word that I got was Karl Dargan was looking foward to his second chance at the Pan Am's... As far as the rest of our number 1's some one might want to look to the local ..... This is when our number 2's get that chance to step it up...

This isn't the first time Rico says no to international competition, I believe he's done this more than a handful of times. Actually, I don't think he's ever had an international bout.

Dargan got hurt in the finals and hasn't trained since the boxoffs(he's just kinda "hanging out" at the OTC) The #2 guy at 141 (Hector Ramos) was sent home along with a few others for missing a morning run.

ricky_old · Post by **ricky_old** » 28 Jan 2007, 07:27

Most of our number 2's are just as tough as our number 1's, so I hope you are in the best shape of your life... I would not worry about what American you get a chance at boxing, but I would worry about how you are going to be able to WIN... Train hard and stop worring about who you get to box...

ring rat:

I'm not a boxer anymore, my last fight was more than 18 years ago and I think I'm in the worst shape of my life so I am not worrying about whom I might fight next (Arthritis maybe)

I'm going to Venezuela as part of our training staff and we did trained them hard. Most of them lack experience but they are willing to get that experience in any opportunity they receive so even though this tournament will have the best boxers of the continent, I hope we will classify some of our kids in some weight divisions.

My question regarding the no participation of some American boxers is because I think the Pan Am Games is a pretty good opportunity for them to have some media exposure before the Olympics and I was surprised they didn't want to go, that's all.

boxing4life · Post by **boxing4life** » 28 Jan 2007, 14:59

This Is They Guys That Are Goin To The Qualyfiers For USA

106-Luis Yanez
112-Quaid Muhamad
119-Roberto Marroquin
125-Luis Del Valle
132-Terrence Crawford
141-Karl Dargan
152-Demetrius Andrade
165-Shawn Porter
178-Christopher Downs
201-Adam Willet
201+-Mike Wilson

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 28 Jan 2007, 15:17

Good luck!!

THE WATCHER · Post by **THE WATCHER** » 28 Jan 2007, 17:13

Ramos maybe you should ask your 141 why he is not going to the qulifier and its not because he missed a run .

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 28 Jan 2007, 18:00

GO USA!!!

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 28 Jan 2007, 19:47

THE WATCHER wrote:Ramos maybe you should ask your 141 why he is not going to the qulifier and its not because he missed a run .

He's my younger brother, I know exactly why he isn't going. He lost to Dargan in the finals.

I know why he's not in camp being used as a sparring partner for the 152, and that's because he decided to stay out all night.

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 28 Jan 2007, 19:51

locoxelbox wrote:That's stupid. All other copuntries are sending their best teams, including the Cubans. Why would the US boxers be different? The international competitions will make them better prepared for the Olympics.

Or they can break their hand and be out for a few months. Didn't this happend to an elite boxer at the PALs?

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 28 Jan 2007, 20:53

ARamos3 wrote:
locoxelbox wrote:That's stupid. All other copuntries are sending their best teams, including the Cubans. Why would the US boxers be different? The international competitions will make them better prepared for the Olympics.

Or they can break their hand and be out for a few months. Didn't this happend to an elite boxer at the PALs?

Art - A few weeks ago I was questioning if some boxers would stay out of the Pan Am Games due to them being so close to the U.S. Olympic trials box-offs. The risk of injury is real and has to be balanced against the benefit of the international experience. USA Boxing could move the Olympic trials box-offs to the end of August to give those boxers a little extra time to recuperate.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 28 Jan 2007, 20:58

Art - BTW, I was agreeing with you in regard to the risk of injury. I'm sorry to hear that your brother and other boxers decided to stay out all night rather than be ready in case of an injury, illness or other life event that prevents the #1 guy from going to the Pan Am qualifier.

I also am disappointed that your brother has not chosen to avail himself of the opportunity to gain international experience on more than one occasion. There are many boxers that would jump at the chance and are never given the opportunity. I hope he doesn't regret it later.

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 28 Jan 2007, 21:10

Dennis wrote:Art - BTW, I was agreeing with you in regard to the risk of injury. I'm sorry to hear that your brother and other boxers decided to stay out all night rather than be ready in case of an injury, illness or other life event that prevents the #1 guy from going to the Pan Am qualifier.

I also am disappointed that your brother has not chosen to avail himself of the opportunity to gain international experience on more than one occasion. There are many boxers that would jump at the chance and are never given the opportunity. I hope he doesn't regret it later.

I guess I should have made myself more clear. My brother is Hector Ramos, the 141 pounder, not Rico Ramos.

My brother has never been "shy" in international competition. He's had about 10 international bouts. I think he's actually "challenged" himself a bit to much. At the world cup he decided to move up to 152 in order to allow the 132 (Danny Garcia) to compete at 141 cause garcia couldnt make 132 anymore. Not many boxers would have done that.

Now he was very dissapointed when he saw they kept Dargan in camp although he wasn't training. There's a very slim chance Dargan will compete at the pan-ams, and if he does he won't be 100%.

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 28 Jan 2007, 21:12

Dennis, ever run into Floyd Jr? Isn't he from Grand Rapids?

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 29 Jan 2007, 12:25

Now he was very dissapointed when he saw they kept Dargan in camp although he wasn't training. There's a very slim chance Dargan will compete at the pan-ams, and if he does he won't be 100%.

Art - I'm disappointed that Hector would take himself out of camp by staying out all night. He knows better.

Dennis - if you look at the schedule, which we have all done, it's apparent that USAB isn't thinking. Rico Ramos (who has no international experience and I'll find out why be isn't going) probably figured that he needed to compete at the US Championships so he could qualify for the Box-offs. It's absolutely insane that the Pan Am camp is scheduled at the same time as the Championships (since we don't have a date can only hope it will be the week after!). Then, of course the Pan Am Games run right into the Box-offs, unless the BO's are scheduled for the middle or end of August.

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 29 Jan 2007, 13:24

boxmel wrote:
Now he was very dissapointed when he saw they kept Dargan in camp although he wasn't training. There's a very slim chance Dargan will compete at the pan-ams, and if he does he won't be 100%.

Art - I'm disappointed that Hector would take himself out of camp by staying out all night. He knows better.

Dennis - if you look at the schedule, which we have all done, it's apparent that USAB isn't thinking. Rico Ramos (who has no international experience and I'll find out why be isn't going) probably figured that he needed to compete at the US Championships so he could qualify for the Box-offs. It's absolutely insane that the Pan Am camp is scheduled at the same time as the Championships (since we don't have a date can only hope it will be the week after!). Then, of course the Pan Am Games run right into the Box-offs, unless the BO's are scheduled for the middle or end of August.

I'm disappointed as well. But that's what he did in the military for 4 years so hopefully he "grows" out of it. He was doing pretty good until then.

Rico Ramos has REJECTED every international invitation he's ever received.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 29 Jan 2007, 13:58

ARamos3 wrote:Dennis, ever run into Floyd Jr? Isn't he from Grand Rapids?

Yes and yes. PBF comes to the gym on occasion when he is in town. Floyd Sr. also comes to the gym when he is in town; however, they DO NOT come to the gym at the same time.

I like that Hector is willing to take the international experience. I saw him box against the Ukranian team in Harvey, IL in December. It is hard to keep the various Ramos boxers info separate. You have Rico (125), Luis (132) and Hector (141). I will just try to remember that your brother is the one from Texas.

I hope Hector keeps training hard so that he can go to the Pan Am qualifiers and Pan Am Games if Dargan isn't able to go.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 29 Jan 2007, 14:11

Art, Hector's a bit old for those kind of shenanigans. He should be a role model for the younger kids. Just out of curiosity, who else was sent home? Regarding Rico - I think he's a real long shot to make the Olympic team. He really should have gone to Venezuela.

ARamos3 · Post by **ARamos3** » 29 Jan 2007, 14:36

boxmel wrote:Art, Hector's a bit old for those kind of shenanigans. He should be a role model for the younger kids. Just out of curiosity, who else was sent home? Regarding Rico - I think he's a real long shot to make the Olympic team. He really should have gone to Venezuela.

I'll have to plead the 5th on that one. It was ONE other boxer that was sent home. More than a handful of them went out but only a few were caught/confessed. I don't want to piss anyone off. I'm sure Dan would give you the full story if you gave him a call.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 29 Jan 2007, 14:51

Thanks - It's not important enough to contact Dan. Just being my usual nosy self.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 29 Jan 2007, 15:00

Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon phenomenon to have boxers stay out late or get in trouble during a tournament, competition or training camp. There are many boxers that behave above reproach and act as an exemplary role-model for other boxers. We need to give recognition to those boxers and reward them. I applaud the coaches and officials who set the bar high and send athletes home when they don't behave properly as it sends a clear message to all athletes about what is expected of them.