By Doug Fischer

Armando “Mando” Ramos, the youngest fighter in boxing history to win the world lightweight title, passed away in his sleep Saturday night. The Long Beach-born boxing prodigy, one of Southern California’s most popular and exciting prize fighters during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, was 59.

Ramos began boxing at age 8 and quickly gained the reputation of a “natural” who possessed considerable power among the local amateur scene and the better gyms of the greater L.A. area. He turned pro at age 17 and developed into one of L.A.’s most popular fighters before his 19th birthday.

Ramos’s fights with featherweight standout Frankie Crawford, former junior lightweight title challenger Kang Il Suh, and former 130-pound champ Hiroshi Kobayashi not only helped develop the fun-loving teenager into a lightweight contender but also established him as a bona fide box office attraction at L.A.’s legendary Olympic Auditorium.

On February 18th, 1969, Ramos made history when he stopped Carlos “Teo” Cruz in the 11th round of their rematch to win the world lightweight title at age 20. Ramos, who fought hard but lived even harder, lost the title to Panamanian great Ismael Laguna 13 months after winning it.

Ramos rebounded with three consecutive victories – over former featherweight champs Sugar Ramos and Raul Rojas, and lightweight contender Ruben Navarro – before regaining the WBC version of the lightweight title three years (to the day) after his first title-winning effort by narrowly out-pointing Spain’s Pedro Carrasco at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles.

Ramos defended the WBC belt against Carrasco (a veteran who only had one loss in 106 pro outings when he first fought Ramos) in Madrid, but lost the title via stoppage to Chango Carmona in September of ’72. Although Ramos was not yet into his mid-20s, he would never regain his form and retired before his 26th birthday.

Ramos battled alcohol and drug addiction throughout the ‘70s before finding sobriety in the early ‘80s. In the mid-’80s, he founded B.A.A.D. (Boxing Against Alcohol & Drugs), a non-profit organization that set up boxing and tutoring after-school programs for high-risk youth at high schools in the Long Beach/San Pedro area of Southern California.

Ramos, who was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1988, loved watching and talking about boxing with anyone who shared his passion for the sport. He was active with amateur boxers and retired boxer organizations up until his untimely death.

MaxBoxing.com extends its deepest sympathies and sincerest prayers to the family and friends of Ramos.