Boxer Ria goes for another title

Ramnarine, 27, of Roopsingh Road, Carapichaima, will go against the current Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) Mini-Flyweight (112 lbs) World Champion, Regina Halmich, of Germany, on September 9.

Ramnarine grew up in a very poor and humble home. As she described and not ashamed of it, Ramnarine told People it was very hard for her parents, Narad Mowlah and Dulcie Ramnarine, to raise four children. She is the youngest of those children,

“My parents had to do gardening to send us to school. I am very grateful for that and I thank them for allowing us the privilege to go to school and earn an education despite the hardships” Ramnarine said.

“At least I was able to become qualified and am able to hold a good job and help to see my parents better themselves, along with my older brothers and sisters,” she added.

Ramnarine, wanted to go abroad to further her studies, after attending Holy Faith Convent, Couva. However, she couldn’t because she lacked the finances.

After the disappointment of not being able to go abroad, she did not give up the fight. She furthered her studies locally in the business field. In 1999, she enrolled at the John Donaldson Technical Institute in Port of Spain where she pursued a course in Process Plant Operations.

While she was pursuing those studies, Ramnarine got involved in a community gym, Fine Line Fight Club, in Montrose, Chaguanas, where she took up classes in karate and kick-boxing. After a while, Ramnarine tried boxing. Her coach, Bharrath Ramoutar, saw the potential in her and her boxing career kicked off.

Ramnarine, who entered the boxing arena as a professional, made her debut on December 3 1999, against Wilma Skeete and won by a knockout in the second round.

In her second major fight, this time against Anguillan champion, Claudette Alexander, Ramnarine was not so successful. She lost the fight over six rounds.

Ramnarine’s bouts then went on to the international boxing circuit. On July 2001, she travelled to New York in pursuit of the World Feather Weight Title. The fight, as she described it, was a nightmare.

“I lost this fight along with my self esteem. I fought against a girl who was much heavier and far more experienced than I was.”

When she returned to Trinidad, Ramnarine took on a local girl in a kickboxing bout and won by a knockout in the third round. Her self esteem returned — she was back on track.

In December of that year, Ramnarine won over eight rounds against Guyanese Shondelle Thomas.

In November 2003, Ramnarine competed in her fist Muay Thai match against world champion Erin Linley in Calgary, Canada. Although she lost, Ramnaine described that fight as a ‘good challenge.’

In July 2004, Ramnarine won the WIBA Latin American Mini Flyweight Title. She fought against Japanese-American Deidre Hamaguchi and won over eight rounds. In that fight, Ramnarine, was exclusively sponsored by Ma Pau Members’ Club in Woodbrook.

Needing to put another win on her record, in December of that same year, Ramnarine took on Adana Francis and won over six rounds.

With the WIBA Mini-Flyweight (105 lbs) World Title in mind, Ramnarine, sponsored by Ma Pau, went on a two-week training stint in Florida. Upon her return she was all prepared to compete for the world title, which she did on May 28, 2005, against Yvonne Caples.

Ramnarine, won the fight over ten rounds and became the first Trinidadian female to win that title. She successfully defended her title last July 14 against Stephanie George of Guyana, winning over ten rounds.

Ramnarine is excited over her upcoming bid for another world title but admits she is concerned about the insufficient and unequal distribution of funds to local athletes by governmental bodies. She is also concerned about the lack of sponsorship from, corporate bodies.

“Everyone speaks about creating avenues for the youths to get off the streets but one must realise there ought to be provisions for them, both in the short and long term,” Ramnarine said.

“The Government must set the example that every creed and race must find an equal place, which includes the way it treats its local aspiring and successful young athletes with respect to funding and rewards for their respective accomplishments.

“I am grateful for the way the Ministry has helped me thus far in my career but I strongly urge the Government to ensure there is equal distribution of funds. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

Ramnarine would like nothing better than to win another world boxing title and promised to continue to improve in every bout she fights. In the future, she wants to help aspiring athletes to achieve their goals.

“I want to become a guide for the youths out there. I want to be financially equipped to support them right through,” she said.