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(JULY 24) This week, after WBAN ran a
story on Akondaye Fountain, and the
frustrations that Fountain went through before NOT taking the
fight, we received information from Team Laura Ramsey, who had
her own dilemma when she fought in China. They sent WBAN a
list of things that happened in regards to going to China to fight
Ya Nan Wang in July of 2007. The list:
1. Laura Ramsey, Wanda Bruce (handler), and Kay Karoma (corner man)
were at the airport for five hours. After asking several
American-like strangers for assistance, one African guy who spoke
English (in China to study Chinese) allowed Wanda to use his cell
phone to call the promoter Zeming Yang. After several failed
attempts, Wanda went to the business center to e-mail promoter about
our arrival in China. The only response Wanda received was “okay”
and they hadn’t expected us until the next day.
2. After leaving the airport we had an hour drive to hotel, which
ended up longer because Zeming said he was lost. Team Ramsey’s party
was sleeping, so no one really knows how much time they were in the
car. (Hotel was beautiful, though.) Attempting to check in hotel,
Team Ramsey was asked to present a credit card for some reason still
not known. After minutes of discussion, check-in was allowed with
one. At midnight we were taken to Dinner.
3. The contract stated receipt of a guide acting as interpreter,
daily expense budget for necessities, and travel to and from the
boxing gym. None of these were met, except for an international
phone card purchased by promoter’s wife. They were left abandoned
for about a day and a half, training at the local University about 3
blocks away. When Team Ramsey and promoter met again, Ramsey was
discouraged from using universities track and field due to recent
attacks. Then, they decided to just train at the hotel being limited
to jogging, sprinting, rope jumping, and pad work.
4. The weigh-in controversy was a circus that involved Ramsey
standing on a commercial meat-type scale for about three minutes as
she listened to various officials talk between them about what the
scale read, trying to convert kilograms into pounds. Ramsey
explained that she had been using a digital scale and felt their
commercial scale was inaccurate, especially when used on carpet that
was bulging underneath. Ramsey asked for an explanation of what was
being discussed, and another official stated that her weight was
fine. After posing for a few photos, Ramsey immediately drank a
bottle of water which meant, even now, her weight had changed by one
pound.
5. Directions were given for Ramsey to bring current testing for the
medical review; it consisted of the doctor asking her if she had
brought any diseases with her to China and a basic vital check. With
clarification requested by Ramsey, the doctor finally conveyed the
message of, if Ramsey had any diseases meaning HIV, AIDS, etc.
6. After the medical and another 16oz bottle of water, Ramsey went
to eat. Once she returned, officials informed her that she was over
the weight limit. (BOXREC.COM has Ramsey’s weight at 157.) They
debated about the apparent weight difference in other languages.
Then, one official came to Ramsey and said they were calling off the
fight, if she didn’t lose the weight. Ramsey tired, full, and
frustrated told them “goodnight” and started walking out the room.
She was stopped stating that more discussion were happening. The
weigh-in official approached Team Ramsey stating that the fight was
going to continue, but the Wang Ya Nan would be using the 8-ounce
gloves, while Ramsey used 10-ounce ones. Ramsey disagreed in
outraged and told them the fight was off for real, unless they
contacted Ryan Wissow of the WIBA and told them that’s what they
were doing. After more discussion between the promoter and sponsors
it was agreed Ramsey's weight was good.
7. Ramsey said her bout was scheduled for a 10 p.m. start and
expected to be picked up from her hotel at 8 p.m. She said the ride
finally came at 8:15 p.m. Once at the venue Ramsey asked for
directions to the bathroom, which was located downstairs quite some
distance from dressing room. Inconveniently, the escalator was
turned off which left Ramsey having to walk down, and then back up.
Once returning from the restroom, Team Ramsey asked how much time
was available for hand wrapping and warm-up. They told her team
after the third bout, which was an exhibition bout.
Ramsey started having her hands wrapped and an official (along with
a female nurse to witness) requested a specimen samples for drug
testing. Ramsey asked where this would take place and the official
said downstairs in the restroom. Ramsey laughed and refused take the
long walk, again. So, she asked if she could give the sample there
in the dressing room. They agreed, so everyone had to leave the
room, except nurse and Ramsey.
8. Shortly, afterwards, someone entered the room and said Ramsey was
up next. Before she could even have her gloves tied, several
officials requested he ring entrance. After Ramsey gloves were tied
finally, she turned to corner man, Karoma, and requested mitt work
to warm up. As they started, it was then demanded that Ramsey report
to the ring immediately, with no warm up for the bout, literally.
9. After the fight, Ramsey returned to the dressing room. Several
minutes later, Ramsey overheard two English-speaking women (one from
Canada and one Asian), requesting to speak to Ramsey just to hug
her. As they entered into the room, both attempted to explain to
Ramsey that the announcer was being unfair over the intercom by
making bias remarks during the fight. Ramsey explained that it was
okay because she could not understand nor was her attention on him.
They continued to suggest that they disagreed with his actions and
were vey disappointed.
10. The day of departure, when attempting to check out, Ramsey was
billed for a damaged towel that was found in her room, that clerk
said was stained and damaged. Ramsey requested to see the towel and
a filthy, fowl-odered towel was presented by housekeeping. Ramsey
denied any use of the towel, but explained to several clerks that
she found the nasty towel on the floor of her bathroom after
housekeeping had finished cleaning the room the day before. Ramsey
was finally allowed to check-out.
Team Ramsey added, "The highlights of the fight was that the purse
was paid in full, after the weigh-in, the venue was awesome, and it
was a great crowd."
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