Boxer Ria gets US training

EXCITING Trinidad and Tobago female boxer Ria Ramnarine was scheduled to leave yesterday for the United States to participate in a two-week training camp. Ramnarine, a mini-flyweight is preparing for a Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) world title fight in March and the training stint is geared to help her prepare properly. According to her trainer/manager Bharath Ramoutar, who will also be making the trip, Ramnarine will be based in Fort Lauderdale at a gym run by former world champion Bunny Carnino.

Ramoutar said that it was important for Ramnarine to train overseas as it will afford her the opportunity to come up against boxers in her weight class. “One of the problems we have been encountering here in Trinidad is a lack of female sparring partners for Ria. We are not satisfied that the sessions with male fighters are what is best,” Ramoutar said. He said he has been told that the Fort Lauderdale gym has a wealth of female boxing talent who will give Ramnarine the kind of intense preparation that he needs to ensure that she is up to standard in the world title fight. Her opponent is yet to be announced but Ramoutar said the final arrangements will be made in Fort Lauderdale when he meets with WIBA president Ryan Wislow.

“We are doing this in the right way to ensure that there are no slip-ups,” said Ramoutar. The owner of Fine Line Gym in Montrose said he connected with Carmino after thorough research on the internet with significant inputs from ex-champion Sue Fox who runs the WBAN (Women’s Boxing Association Network) archives. Ramoutar has high expectations for Ramnarine, of Carapichaima in central Trinidad who works in the office of a Charlieville, Chaguanas construction company. The 26-year-old is the holder of the WIBA Ibero-American mini-flyweight championship crown which she won last year, defeating American Diedre Hamguchi on July 31 in Chaguanas. She has a record of seven victories, two defeats and one no-contest and has impressed all with her technical capability and her courage against more experienced and heavier opponents.

“Ria has proven she is a true champion. And one of the reasons she will go all the way to the top is that apart from being a technically sound boxer she can also brawl as she showed against Hamaguchi,” Ramoutar said. Ramnarine’s trip to the US has been made possible by Ma Pau Private Members Club, a popular gaming establishment located in Woodbrook who have been her major benefactor, coming on board last year before the Ibero-Anerican title fight. For Ramnarine’s last fight on Boxing Night (December 26), Ma Pau contributed $20,000 towards her preparation and through their Public Relations Officer Sherry Persad has committed to the boxer’s future endeavours in the ring. Ramnarine is expected back home on February 15.