Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Visalia Crash Sends Car Into Marie Callender’s After Driver Runs Red Light

22 hours ago

Gifford Fire Expands to 83,933 Acres in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo Counties

23 hours ago

S&P 500 and Nasdaq Lifted by Earnings, Fed Hopes

24 hours ago

Israeli Military Chief Opposes Gaza War Expansion, Raising Pressure on Netanyahu

24 hours ago

Israel Considers Full Gaza Takeover as More Die of Hunger

2 days ago

US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says

2 days ago

Cruz Criticizes Hochul for Wearing Headscarf at Slain Officer’s Funeral

2 days ago

Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order

2 days ago
Boxing Champ Ramirez Emotional at Statue Unveiling
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 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

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Who Drugged and Sexually Abused Minors Sentenced to 53 Years to Life

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Arrest Four in Narcotics Bust After Five-Month Investigation

DON'T MISS

Overturned Big Rig Backs Up Highway 99 Traffic in Fresno

DON'T MISS

California Reveals 5th State Prison to Close Because of Falling Inmate Population

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Search for Robbery Suspect Near Blackstone Avenue

DON'T MISS

Trump Says US Will Charge Tariff of About 100% on Semiconductor Imports

DON'T MISS

Trump Weighs Getting Involved in New York City Mayor Race

DON'T MISS

Apple Commits Additional $100 Billion to US Investments

DON'T MISS

Fresno Taken Off Federal Sanctuary City List After DHS Reversal

DON'T MISS

Trita Parsi Shares Ex-Green Beret’s Account of Deadly Gaza Aid Sites

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Arrest Four in Narcotics Bust After Five-Month Investigation

UP NEXT

Overturned Big Rig Backs Up Highway 99 Traffic in Fresno

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Search for Robbery Suspect Near Blackstone Avenue

UP NEXT

Fresno Taken Off Federal Sanctuary City List After DHS Reversal

UP NEXT

Trita Parsi Shares Ex-Green Beret’s Account of Deadly Gaza Aid Sites

UP NEXT

First Date Turns Into DUI High-Speed Pursuit on Highway 99, CHP Fresno Says

UP NEXT

Tulare Co. Sends 86 to Drug Treatment Under Prop 36. Fresno Sends Only 3

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: Spike in Summer Football Injuries

UP NEXT

Soria, Magsig Zoom to State Senate Fundraising Leads

UP NEXT

New Fresno EOC Chief Has Lengthy Career with Head Start Programs

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

California Reveals 5th State Prison to Close Because of Falling Inmate Population

16 hours ago

Fresno Police Search for Robbery Suspect Near Blackstone Avenue

16 hours ago

Trump Says US Will Charge Tariff of About 100% on Semiconductor Imports

17 hours ago

Trump Weighs Getting Involved in New York City Mayor Race

17 hours ago

Apple Commits Additional $100 Billion to US Investments

17 hours ago

Fresno Taken Off Federal Sanctuary City List After DHS Reversal

17 hours ago

Trita Parsi Shares Ex-Green Beret’s Account of Deadly Gaza Aid Sites

18 hours ago

First Date Turns Into DUI High-Speed Pursuit on Highway 99, CHP Fresno Says

18 hours ago

Tulare Co. Sends 86 to Drug Treatment Under Prop 36. Fresno Sends Only 3

18 hours ago

US Army Sergeant Suspected of Shooting, Wounding Five Fellow Soldiers at Fort Stewart in Georgia

18 hours ago

Fresno Man Who Drugged and Sexually Abused Minors Sentenced to 53 Years to Life

A Fresno man was sentenced Wednesday to 53 years to life in state prison for committing lewd acts involving three minors over a six-year spa...

14 hours ago

14 hours ago

Fresno Man Who Drugged and Sexually Abused Minors Sentenced to 53 Years to Life

Clovis Police arrested Jeremiah Gonzalez (top left), 25, Jonathan Simmavong (bottom left), 27, both of Clovis, Gursimran Mahal (top right), 25, and Zackary Torres, 26, both of Fresno, in a narcotics investigation that led to the seizure of drugs, a firearm, and illegal vape products. (Clovis PD)
16 hours ago

Clovis Police Arrest Four in Narcotics Bust After Five-Month Investigation

An overturned big rig on Highway 99 at Clinton Avenue caused major traffic backups in both directions Wednesday, August 6, 2025, afternoon in Fresno. (Fresno County SO)
16 hours ago

Overturned Big Rig Backs Up Highway 99 Traffic in Fresno

16 hours ago

California Reveals 5th State Prison to Close Because of Falling Inmate Population

Fresno police are searching for a suspect who robbed a person near Blackstone and Garland avenues and fled in a white Chevrolet sedan. (Fresno PD)
16 hours ago

Fresno Police Search for Robbery Suspect Near Blackstone Avenue

Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustration picture taken February 25, 2022. (Reuters File)
17 hours ago

Trump Says US Will Charge Tariff of About 100% on Semiconductor Imports

President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters at the White House in Washington, July 30, 2025. The conversation between President Trump and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo came at a time when Cuomo was publicly pushing Mayor Eric Adams and other rivals to drop out of the race in hopes of consolidating the support of voters who oppose the frontrunner, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
17 hours ago

Trump Weighs Getting Involved in New York City Mayor Race

17 hours ago

Apple Commits Additional $100 Billion to US Investments

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

Search

Send this to a friend