Mexican Independence Day and Boxing Go Hand in Hand Thanks to Chango Carmona

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña

When boxing fans think of the biggest and best fight of the year they think of Mexican Independence Day weekend. A weekend that Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR. made famous. A weekend where thousands of fight fans usually converge on Las Vegas and spend millions of dollars. For the older boxing fans and true historians of the fight game they know that September 15th 1972 was the date that started it all. That memorable night in Los Angeles 44 years ago Chango Carmona gave fight fans one of the best fights the Mexican Holiday has ever seen. Carmona faced the very popular Southern California fighter Mexican-American Mando Ramos. Ramos was the WBC Lightweight Champion and a Long Beach, California native. The Los Angeles Coliseum, was loud and the fans were rowdy. Half the crowd was Mexican nationals rooting for Carmona, the other half of the crowd rooting for the hometown favorite Ramos. Leading up yo the fight Carmona had trained two months in the elevation of Mexico City.

In a recent interview at the WBC offices Chango stated “I never drank, I never smoked, and I was in the best shape of my life for Ramos.” Carmona severely punished Ramos in that fight. Carmona started fast and out boxed Ramos. Although Ramos had a height and reach advantage he couldn’t stop the onslaught of punches by Carmona, most of which landed flush on Ramos’ face. In the 4th round, Carmona busted up Ramos’ nose with a stiff left jab, then moments later floored Ramos with a right cross to the jaw. Twice in the 5th Carmona put Ramos down with body blows, as Carmona landed hard shots to the kidneys of Ramos, then landed a devastating left under the ribs. Ramos out boxed Carmona to win the 7th, but in the 8th Carmona dropped Ramos with a left hook. Ramos made it to his feet couldn’t stop Carmona’s barrage of punches, Ramos’ face was a bloody mess when referee Rudy Jordan pulled Chango away at 1:48 mark of 8th round of a scheduled 15 round fight. After the fight Ramos was taken from the Coliseum in an ambulance to a local hospital. Carmona decided instead of going back to Mexico to celebrate he’d pay a visit to Ramos. Chango stayed at Mando’s bedside until he was released. That memorable night in Los Angeles, Chango Carmona became the first ever world champion to win a title on Mexican Independence Day.

At 72 Chango Carmona is still active in the Southern California boxing scene training fighters and when not around a gym he enjoys spending time with his grand children. Recently Chango Carmona was inducted into the National Boxing Hall Of Fame. Other inductees included, James Tony, Leon Spinks, Carlos Palomino,Bobby Chacon, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Joey Orbillo, Freddie Roach, Thell Torrence, Alberto Reyes, Gene Aguilera, Dr. Michael De Luca, Carlos Baeza, Gwen Adair, Shelley Williams, Joe Noriega, and Tony Triem. With the posthumous awards going to Henry Armstrong, Eddie Futch and Cleto Reyes; a “Hollywood Inside-Square Circle” award to Sylvester Stallone, a Don Jose Sulaiman Lifetime Achievement award to Dr. Gerald Finerman, a “Fighter of the Year” award to Thompson Boxing’s heavyweight LaRon Mitchell and “Trainer of the Year” honors to Joel Diaz.

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