(JAN 5) Laura “Lady Ram” Ramsey of Lakeland, Florida was named an inductee into the Class of 2025 for the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame (FBHOF). All the inductees for the Class of 2025 were announced at the SJC Boxing Gym in Fort Myers, Florida. FBHOF President Steven J. Canton is the owner of the SJC Gym which also has the FBHOF Museum. The museum contains memorabilia such as championship belts and the fist casts of inductees. Ramsey joins an elite group of female boxers who are inductees of the FBHOF and the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame (IWBHF):  Barbara Buttrick, Melissa Del Valle, Christy Martin, Bonnie Canino, Ada Velez, Stacy Prestage, and now Laura Ramsey.

One of Ramsey’s notable wins was against Ijeoma Egbunine of Nigeria in January 2007. Ramsey won by TKO in the first round after Ramsey knocked Egbunine down three times. Egbunine had wins over IWBHF inductees Carlette Ewell and Valerie Mahfood during her pro career. After Ramsey won against Egbunine, Ramsey won the Global Boxing Union (GBU) world middleweight title just two weeks later in January 2007 in her opponent’s home country of Kenya by defeating Conjestina Achieng by TKO in the sixth round.

Ramsey fought IWBHF inductees during her pro career such as Natascha Ragosina, Carlette Ewell, and Sonya Lamonakis. Ramsey lost by decision to Ragosina and Ewell, but had a draw against Lamonakis for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) world heavyweight title. Ramsey never lost by knockout during her pro career. In her last fight in February 2020, Ramsey won a rematch and the American Boxing Organization (ABO) heavyweight title against Gwendolyn O’Neil by TKO in the fourth round. Although Ramsey did not win a world title in the heavyweight division, she is considered to be one of the best female heavyweight boxers of all time. Ramsey ended her pro career with a record of 11-7-1, 6 KOs.

FBHOF Vice President Bob Alexander introduced each FBHOF Class of 2025 inductee. Alexander spoke about Ramsey and Ramsey herself spoke afterwards.  Alexander described Ramsey as “a pure action fighter every time she fought in the state of Florida.” Ramsey recognized the trainers who helped her during her career such as Jack Leonard who also trained former world welterweight champion Andre Berto. Leonard told Ramsey that if she continued on this path, then she would become a world champion. Leonard’s prediction came true because Ramsey became a world champion a decade later. Leonard died in August 2007 at the age of 89 which was several months after Ramsey won a world title in January 2007. Leonard was inducted posthumously into the FBHOF in 2012.

Other trainers were announced as FBHOF inductees for this year’s class such as Tony Morgan, Stacy McKinley Jr., and Roy Jones Sr. Morgan trained amateur boxers in the Police Athletic League (PAL) after Leonard in Winter Haven, Florida.  McKinley Jr. previously trained former boxer Chasity Martin of Pompano Beach, Florida who was known as “The Queen of Pompano.” McKinley Jr. also was a trainer for Mike Tyson. Jones Sr. is the father of Hall of Fame boxer Roy Jones Jr. and was one of his trainers during his pro career. Dalia Duran was recognized as the organizer of this event for announcing the FBHOF inductees for the Class of 2025. Duran is the daughter of Hall of Fame boxer Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran. Dalia Duran was inducted into the FBHOF Class of 2020 for her work as a boxing photographer. She also works as a director of public relations for the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.

The FBHOF Induction Weekend 2025 will take place in the same location as last year. It will be at the Hilton on 950 Lake Carillon Drive in St. Petersburg, Florida (Carillon Park) on June 20, 21, and 22, 2025. The Induction Ceremony will be on Sunday, but there will be other activities on Friday and Saturday such as the Meet & Greet and the Gala Dinner. Check out the Florida Boxing of Hall of Fame for details.

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