Jose Ramirez

The resume of Ramirez in and out of the ring is anything but ordinary for an amateur boxer. A computer engineering major at Fresno State, Ramirez was the 2008 and 2009 junior Olympic national champion before winning the U.S. national championship each of the past three years. The former Starbucks employee and high school valedictorian defeated 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams in the final of this year's nationals, just as he did at last year's U.S. Olympic trials. That victory sent him to the world championships with a chance to earn a spot in London, but Ramirez lost a close bout in preliminary action to reigning Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomanchenko of the Ukraine. He bounced back from that defeat to dominate nationals, winning his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts by a combined 50-26 score before beating Williams to earn another shot at a London berth. He finally clinched it at the Americas Olympic Qualifier in May with an easy quarterfinal victory over Canada's Alex Rynn, winning a 23-11 decision after forcing three standing eight counts. Ramirez would lose in the semifinals there, but he's still considered one of USA Boxing's best shots at a medal and already has been courted by top professional promoters.