Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Boxing Champ Ramirez Emotional at Statue Unveiling
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
September 17, 2019

Share

Fresno County loves Jose Ramirez, and the champ feels the same way.
The WBO/WBC super lightweight world champion watched as a statue of his likeness was unveiled at the Fresno County Historical Museum inside the Big Fresno Fair on Tuesday morning.


Listen to this article:
 


“When I was a kid, I wanted the belt, big houses, I wanted cars. The older I got, my only goal was to inspire. To motivate people. To let them know that everything is possible.” — world boxing champion Jose Ramirez
For a man who said he was speechless, Ramirez followed with many emotional words.
“When I was a kid, I wanted the belt, big houses, I wanted cars. The older I got, my only goal was to inspire. To motivate people,” Ramirez said, voice cracking. “To let them know that everything is possible. To work hard, stay in the right lane. This for me, honestly, it makes me feel like you guys are paying attention. It makes me feel like you guys are thankful for all the sacrifices I’ve done.”

Inspiration Comes from a Legend and Kids

Ramirez said Oscar De La Hoya served as his professional inspiration. Like De La Hoya, Ramirez boxed with the U.S. Olympic team in 2012, before turning professional and becoming a champion.
Since he turned pro, Ramirez said inspiration has come from his son Matteo, and another set of children.
“The times I went to Valley Children’s Hospital, I was able to go for a walk with the kids that were fighting for their lives. Six years old, 7 years old, 3 years old, and they are fighting for their lives. Being in those positions got me to be able to do what I did moving forward,” Ramirez said.
He also talked about how the farmworkers in his Kings County hometown of Avenal inspired him to fight for water and adopt his “Immigrant and Proud” mantra.

The Statue

Fresno artist Debbie Stevenson spent a year’s worth of weekends creating the life-sized statue. It started with photos of Ramirez. Fair CEO John Alkire joked she shot him in the nude.
Stevenson said this was the biggest art project of her career. Sculpturing is a hobby of hers, having done previous work mostly of horses and other animals. Her bust of champion horse California Chrome is also displayed at the museum. Stevenson used clay with a bronze paint finish to give the statue a realistic look. She also works for Duncan Ceramics.

Jose Ramirez (left) and artist Debbie Stevenson (right) pose with the Ramirez statue. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

Award-Winning Boxing Exhibit

The statue will sit in front of the Ramirez wall at the museum’s boxing exhibit, honoring the history of local pugilists. Ramirez also donated one of his WBC championship belts that will be encased in a glass display.
Alkire said the exhibit opened last year, and already has won awards. It features photos, bios of boxers, and a touchscreen video display to learn more about the fighters. The video includes fights, dating to the 1930s with Young Corbett III’s championship bout.

Jose Ramirez exhibit at the Fresno County Historical Museum. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

Watch Full Jose Ramirez Speech

DON'T MISS

Sale and Skubal Claim Cy Young Awards After Historic Pitching Triple Crown Seasons

DON'T MISS

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

DON'T MISS

Bitcoin Is at the Doorstep of $100,000 as Post-Election Rally Rolls On

DON'T MISS

US Regulators Seek to Break Up Google, Forcing Chrome Sale as Part of Monopoly Punishment

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

DON'T MISS

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

DON'T MISS

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

DON'T MISS

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

UP NEXT

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

UP NEXT

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

UP NEXT

Love Seeks Redemption as Packers Prepare for 49ers Rematch

UP NEXT

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

UP NEXT

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

UP NEXT

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

UP NEXT

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

UP NEXT

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: How Fresno is Preparing For Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Bitcoin Is at the Doorstep of $100,000 as Post-Election Rally Rolls On

18 minutes ago

US Regulators Seek to Break Up Google, Forcing Chrome Sale as Part of Monopoly Punishment

25 minutes ago

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

29 minutes ago

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

41 minutes ago

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

49 minutes ago

Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

54 minutes ago

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

1 hour ago

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

1 hour ago

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

2 hours ago

Conservative Professors and Students Are Beating CA Community Colleges in Court

2 hours ago

Sale and Skubal Claim Cy Young Awards After Historic Pitching Triple Crown Seasons

NEW YORK — Chris Sale was one of the ace left-handers Tarik Skubal idolized as a teenager. Now the two will be linked forever after winning ...

9 minutes ago

9 minutes ago

Sale and Skubal Claim Cy Young Awards After Historic Pitching Triple Crown Seasons

13 minutes ago

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

17 minutes ago

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

18 minutes ago

Bitcoin Is at the Doorstep of $100,000 as Post-Election Rally Rolls On

25 minutes ago

US Regulators Seek to Break Up Google, Forcing Chrome Sale as Part of Monopoly Punishment

29 minutes ago

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

41 minutes ago

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

49 minutes ago

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend