July 15, 2006

A Real Knockout Artist: 2 Time World champion Luis Ramon Campas has more KO's then any other active Boxer on the Planet!

He has more KO's (by far) than virtually any other active boxer alive on the planet today! Meet Luis Ramon "Yory Boy" Campas, 89 wins (73 KO's) with only 8 losses. Pro Since 1987, Alias "Yory Boy" which means Strong Boy in his native Navajoa, Mexico. This two-time World Champion defines the words "Mexican Warrior". He turns down no challengers and at 34 is still young enough to compete with the boxing elite.

The term "Knock Out Artist" is often exaggerated by todays promoters to help sell tickets and TV broadcasts but not in the case of "Yory Boy". With 73 knockouts in 89 victories he has more KO's than any active fighter on the planet! He has fought World Champions Oscar De LaHoya, Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Daniel Santos, Raul Marquez, Jose Luis Lopez and Jorge Vaca. Few boxing fans will forget his internationally televisied bout with Trinidad, when Yory floored Tito in the second round. Campas also deflated the comeback attempt of Tony Ayala when he battered him for a TKO win on ESPN.

Luis is elated to headline tonight's (July 15th, 2006) card "Boxing in the Ballpark" being held at 5th 3rd Ballpark home of The Tigers Class A affiliate, in Grand Rapids, MI, "The White Caps". Ramon, he insisted I call him Ramon, sat down with me this morning to discuss his career, his life, his aspirations and his membership with J.A.B. (Joint Association of Boxers) a local of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union. With my broken Spanish and his broken English we sat down pool-side at the Radisson with Joe Diaz of Top Level Boxing Gym Inc. his manager and translator. Joe is also the Business Manager for J.A.B. and all 49 pro fighters under his care are members of J.A.B..

When I first met Ramon he was relaxing waiting for the Official Weigh In and I was struck by his humility and gracious manner. Ramon has no Tattoos, no Flashy Clothing or Jewelry, it's only his flattened nose that announces him as a boxer. His face is broad and supports gleaming brown eyes and his trade mark dark mustache. Looking at this man you can see a person in love with his sport. I was expecting to discuss boxing and was surprised to find a truly fascinating human being, full of paradox but totally comfortable in his skin. I can't tell you how impressed I was with Luis Ramon Campas, the Human Being! What follows is an excerpt of the interview I conducted. The full interview will be made available in MP3 or FLV video shortly.

SportsFilter: Good morning Yory. Thanks for meeting with me.

Ramon: Please by all means call me Ramon and I'm grateful to be here on this beautiful morning. Let's talk.

SportsFilter: Your soon turning 35 years old (August 6th) and have been a Professional Boxer since 1987. How did you start in Boxing?

Ramon: Well in Navajoa (his hometown in Mexico) they have a small gym and as a youngster I would sneak in and watch the training and sparring. After a while they just expected me to be there and I have always been a boxer. My entire life, and my brother and uncle's it's a family business. It's what I was raised to be. I am a boxer, I became a fighter when I went Pro at 15 but let me say it's a great career and I'm Blessed to be here, Blessed to have these skills and the support of a wonderful family and compatriots in the World of Boxing.

SportsFilter: You've had some disappointments in your career.........

Ramon: No No No I have not known disappointments, I have my honor, I have loses yes, but no disappointments. I'm always, at all times a Professional and as a Professional I prepare and expect to win every bout. I give my all if I get beat I do not dishonor the victor with such a thing as disappointment. Surely I'm responsible for my own behavior, my own outcomes, I have no space in my life for such a thing.

SportsFilter: Wow, OK. You've fought some of the biggest names in boxing and are a Two-Time World Champion. What is your fondest accomplishment as a Fighter?

Ramon: Holding on to my Honor in the eyes of my Family and Children. Being an example of Champion and it's true meaning to the Mexican People. As ambassador for my culture and for the World of Professional Prize Fighting. The Prestige of a World Championship comes with a duty to be the "Man" an example of an honorable life. This above all has been the driving force of my success.

SportsFilter: Until recently you've been serving a 1 year suspension of your Boxing License in Arizona. You live and train in Phoenix Arizona, what led to your suspension?

Ramon: A 20 year old Fighter, he died and nothing was done for his family, no money for his burial, nothing....... I start organizing the Arizona Fighters for J.A.B.. and the Teamsters so this never happen again. We picketed the Arizona Offices of Boxing Commission. Nine times we picketed and requested our rights to organize and protect ourselves from the unscrupulous who would take advantage, for this I was suspended by the entrenched powerful Commissioner. They cannot take my Honor, my prestige or my commitment to my compatriots in the Boxing World. The Joint Association of Boxers is the Future of the Sport of Boxing. We are organized and with the help of The Teamsters and Eddie Musafa (President J.A.B.) and the Good Will of Boxing Fans we are going to restore sanity and safety to the World of Professional Prize Fighting. For this I have paid but a small price. That's why I'm so thrilled to Box this evening here in Grand Rapids, as you know this venue is Sponsored by Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 669. I come here with my Honor intact and with a sense of purpose bigger then myself.

SportsFilter: Where do you see this taking you in your Boxing career?

Ramon: To a World Championship of course! This must be... must be my destiny. I never stop working to this end.

SportsFilter: Your Fighting Miguel "Macho" Hernandez, WBC US MiddleWeight Champion this evening at 19-4 with 9 Ko's. Miquel when he was contacted in Chicago by local MatchMaker Bruce Kielty he immediately accepted the fight and has eagerly anticipated his shot at beating the Legendary Mexican Champion "Yory Boy Campas". What can we expect this evening?

Ramon: He will be #74. I will knock him out.

SportsFilter: Your confident about that huh?

Ramon: I am ready and the Promoters want to send their top Prospects to Fight me. I'm no Prospect. I'm on track for another World Championship.

We went on to talk about many things. His Children, his commitment to an honest life, his desire to be an example for those coming up the ranks in the World of Professional Boxing. I was left with an impression of a man who really understands the duty that comes with being "World Champion" I hope I've left the reader with a sense of Luis Ramon Campas "Yory Boy" "The Mexican Warrior" the man. I am proud to be his Fan!

Right after our interview I watched as Yory was approached by the other fighters preparing to fight on this evenings card. They were thrilled with the attention he gave each one and graciously posed for photos and provided autographs to each, including his opponent, Migual Hernandez and they posed together for a photograph. It may seem a small thing but we all were struck with the Class in which this man lives his life.

Update:

Yory Boy went on to win that evening's bout with a KO in the 5th round. He had dominated the match from the opening bell and in typical Campas fashion it ended in a Knock Out. It was announced August 22nd that he has a match scheduled in Madison Square Garden on September 29th with John Duddy, the unbeaten Irish middleweight from Derry fighting out of New York City. This is no prospect-wannabe. Campas won't be favored in this fight, however John Duddy will be tested like never before against the very, very experienced "Yory Boy" Campus. This should be an exciting fight and I'm thrilled that "Yory Boy" Campas gets a shot at regaining his lost prestige. If your in the New York City area Sept. 29th go see this fight at the Garden, you'll see Boxing at it finest, of this I have no doubt!

posted by skydivedad to commentary at 01:15 PM - 0 comments