Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos, the World Boxing Council's first featherweight world champion, has passed away at the age of 75.
A fighter best known for having some of the greatest featherweight bouts of the 20th century, Ramos was one of the sport's first true stars fighting in the lower weight classes. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced Ramos' passing on social media.
"With profound sadness, I share the sad news of Ultiminio Ramos' passing. He is now resting in peace," Sulaiman said.
Despite being born in Cuba and spending his first few years as a pro fighting in Cuba, Ramos moved to Mexico right around the time Fidel Castro came to power in the country. It was in Mexico where Ramos blossomed into the star that he would later become.
Ramos is perhaps best known for the battles he had against Davey Moore in 1963, Floyd Robertson in 1964 and the two-fight series against Carlos Ortiz from 1966 to 1967. Ramos reigned as the WBC champion from 1963 to 1964. Ramos retained the title three times before losing the crown via 12th-round KO to fellow Hall of Famer Vicente Saldivar on September 26, 1964.
Ramos was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001 and retired in 1972 with a 55-7-4 record (40 KO).
