Little Tony's Boxing Club Rosamond California The AV Hub Lancaster California
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LITTLE TONY'S Boxing Club - (661) 256-7591
5:30 to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
The club opened July 2, 2005
2739 Diamond St., Suite E, Rosamond, California
| UP AND RUNNING - Tony Ramirez, with his son Anthony, are ready to box inside the ring at his new business in Rosamond, Little Tony's Boxing Club. The former flyweight prizefighter said he started the club to give youngsters something fun to do and keep them out of trouble. B |
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Thursday, July 7, 2005.
By CORINA KELLAM
Special to the Valley Press
ROSAMOND - He made the T-shirts first.
Tony Ramirez silk-screened 72 shirts with "Little Tony's Boxing Club" and his home phone number and asked family and friends to wear them around town. When he started getting phone calls asking about memberships, he kicked into high gear to find a space.
"I had given up hope on finding a place," said Ramirez, swigging Gatorade. "Every place I found had four people ahead of me, waiting to sign the lease. I only got this place because the people ahead of me dropped out."
Ramirez relishes any challenge, including maneuvering to acquire gym space. And he's not easy to knock out.
His blue eyes sparkle as he reminisces about his days as a prizefighter.
"I was once Number 10 (flyweight) in the world. I miss the adrenaline, miss the spotlights. That's when you find out who your real friends are, though, after you're out of the spotlights."
Nowadays, Ramirez boxes for fun and runs a private chauffeur service. He learned the ropes working as Chad Norris' driver for almost five years. When Ramirez's wife was offered a teacher's aide position in Rosamond, they and their five children relocated.
Six years ago, Ramirez got a phone call saying his 16-year-old nephew was killed in a shooting in Rosamond. It made him think about what he might do to head off other tragedies.
"I'm not doing this for the money," Ramirez said. "There's nothing for kids here to do. Parents are out making a living, making money, and their kids are wandering the streets. I don't want anyone to have to get the same call I did."
After investing $10,000 in start-up costs, almost all of which is personal savings, Ramirez said 30 memberships would be "more than enough" to stay in business. Memberships will be $35 a month, plus a $50 initiation fee.
Before the club opened Saturday at 2739 Diamond St., Suite E, Ramirez got a new set of T-shirts with a business number. The shirts were to be given to the first 10 to sign up, along with mouth guards and hand wraps.
A week before the planned opening, a pile of exercise equipment in one corner was the only evidence of a business. The boxing ring, set up the next day, made the building more gym-like. But Ramirez didn't seem too worried.
"I'm pretty lucky to have a lot of good friends, quality friends," he said. "A friend's coming over in a little bit to help me with some welding and construction."
Ramirez is taking off from his chauffeur business for the first two weeks of the boxing club's opening to work full time. Targeting youth with after-school hours, the club will be open 5:30 to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
"We come into this world for a reason," Ramirez said. "I just want kids to have something to do."
For details, call (661) 256-7591.
ERNARD KANE/Valley Press