Olympics: Ramirez falls short of emulating De la Hoya

Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Gaibnazarov, right, reacts after defeating Jose Ramirez, of the United States in a men’s light weight 60-kg boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

LONDON—Jose Ramirez failed in his bid to become the first American since Oscar De la Hoya in 1992 to win Olympic lightweight gold when he lost to Uzbek Fazliddin Gaibnazarov in the second round on Thursday.

The 19-year-old had been fancied to deliver, but a slow start against the Uzbek saw him fall too far behind and not even a superb final round, which he won 6-3, could redress the balance as he lost 15-11.

However, Ramirez, who has been linked along with team-mate and fellow 19-year-old Joseph Diaz Junior to Oscar De la Hoya’s Golden Boy stable, said that while he was disappointed he took some positives away with him.

“The one thing I have got from this is that it has opened new doors for me,” he said.

Ramirez, who has also mulled over going to university before turning pro, said that it was disheartening that he was the sixth American to go out after they had started so promisingly with four victories.

“Yeah it is a little disappointing we came up short as we are a young and hungry team.”