Drug Knockout : Ex-Boxer, Punch-Drunk No More, Warns the Young at ‘Awareness Day’

Mando Ramos knows how it feels to be high. And the former two-time world lightweight boxing champion encourages others, especially youths, to feel it too--but not with drugs or alcohol.

Ramos said it was his abuse of alcohol and drugs that ended his promising boxing career when he should have had many more years left in the ring. He was 25.

Ramos now tells youths that boxing and other types of exercise are the ways to get that “special high”--not the abuse of drugs.

As founder of Boxing Against Alcohol and Drugs, known simply as BAAD, the former prizefighter was among 650 participants in Saturday’s Drug Awareness Day at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“We try to keep kids off the streets,” said Ramos, 41, who began the program in 1983 after leaving a drug rehabilitation center. “We relate our experiences to them and try to steer them away from drugs.”

At the daylong event, visitors were offered a chance to see and tour some of the latest military aircraft and participate in carnival games.

“The idea of this is to get kids early,” said Maj. Arlen Rens of the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352.

The main objective of the program, he said, is to educate county residents, particularly children, about the dangerous consequences of drug misuse and to build community opposition to illegal use of drugs.

Among the aircraft displayed were refuelers, reconnaissance and fighter planes and a transport helicopter. Making a special appearance were three P-51 Mustangs--refurbished World War II fighters--that fly to various drug-awareness events around California.

Known as the Super K Drug-Free America Air Force, the P-51s participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Campaign for a Drug-Free America and are valued at $500,000 to $700,000 each.

“These planes were instrumental in winning World War II,” said Joe Kasparoff, owner of the planes. “They are really an excellent symbol now of the war on drugs. We’re hoping that these planes will get people interested in flying and hopefully result in a significant reduction in drug use.”

Ramos said hundreds of youths have participated in his program, which also features other famous boxers who give stage exhibitions, then anti-drug lectures, at Southern California high schools.

Andres and Alejandro Rodriguez, 13 and 11 respectively, have been in Ramos’ program for the last five years. Dressed in matching red-and-white T-shirts bearing the program’s emblem, the brothers said the program gives them something to do, especially during the summer when school is out.

“We work out every day for a couple of hours,” Andres said, plus Ramos “takes us on a lot of trips.”

But in addition to providing a safe haven from the drugs and gangs near the Wilmington Teen Center, where the program operates, it provides volunteers such as Ramos and fitness instructor William Higginbotham a chance to heal.

“I was an alcoholic and a drug addict,” said Higginbotham, 33. “I wish I had something like this when I was growing up to keep me away from drugs and alcohol.”