More on Mando Ramos

I received the following email from retired boxing journalist Bill O'Neill of Riverside, California regarding Mando Ramos' Memorial service, and thought it was worth sharing with you (With his permission of course).

Hello, Mr. De La O:

I just "discovered" your website, while surfing the Internet for mention of the Mando Ramos Memorial Celebration. You have a most impressive website, and you did a fine job of capturing the spirit of the gathering at Longshoremen's Hall. I knew Mando quite well--covered him as a boxing writer from the beginning of his ring career, and we remained friends through all the intervening years. In fact, he called me to chat, just three days before his untimely passing.
The following is a note I sent out to a few friends--including Tina Quarry Lang, who is very close to Sylvia but was unable to attend the memorial.
Bill O'Neill
Retired Boxing Journalist
Riverside
email: olbillie@aol.com

My wife and I drove into Wilmington this afternoon (118-mile round trip) for the Mando Ramos memorial. It was a worthwhile trip, in spite of the heavy traffic. The event was hosted by the former lightweight champion's widow, Sylvia, and their son, Mando, Jr.; and it was extremely well planned and executed. A big, friendly and enthusiastic crowd of perhaps 500 people showed up at Longshoremen's Hall and were treated to good food, rousing Mexican music, a slide show featuring Mando and his family, an impressive display of photographs and memorabilia, AND a 20-minute video presentation on a huge screen, featuring Mando in action in the ring, knocking out about 25 guys, one after the other.

Among the boxing people I recognized during the 90 minutes or so we were there: Armando Muniz, Carlos Palomino, Joey Orbillo, Andy "Kid" Heilman, Bobby Chacon, Frankie Duarte, Paul Gonzales, Jackie Hayden, Ken Thompson, and Dr. Joe Noriega.

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Thank You, Mr. O'Neill