Ramos won the Cuban featherweight championship belt in 1960 and defected to Mexico City when Fidel Castro came into power.

Ramos would defend his title three times including against Ghanaian challenger Floyd Robertson, via a controversial split decision victory.

[1] Ramos lost his titles in 1964 to Vicente Saldivar after the fight was stopped in the twelfth round due to cuts.

Ramos then moved up to lightweight, eventually earning a shot at then champion Carlos Ortiz in 1966.

Sugar Ramos died at the age of 75 on 3 September 2017 in his adopted home of Mexico City due to complications from cancer.