Jose Ramirez, 2012 US Olympian, and now undefeated Top Rank pro boxer (11-0,8 KOs) home town of Avenal, Ca could completely run out of water and be the first victim in California’s fight for water.
"We must correct the water situation in Avenal. To ignore the problem and the people there of this vital resource is a form of genocide which as Americans we should not tolerate," said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Ramirez, like in the ring has come out fighting and with the help of the California Latino Water Coalition has come up with a “Fight Plan” to keep his town flowing with water. “I went to Mario Santoyo our Executive Director and one of the state’s leading experts on water issues and with the help of Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle we have come up with a plan to beat this situation, this is my home and where my family is,” said Ramirez
Avenal California, this community of 14,000, principally Latino farm workers, was just about to dry up because its sole source of water from the federal government was about out. However, as soon as the California Latino Water Coalition was informed by Jose Ramirez and Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle (a Coalition member) about this dire situation the Coalition reacted quickly and assisted the city in identifying various actions with both the state and federal government which would result in the supplemental water this poor community needed.
“I’m proud of Jose and what he stands for and with that I will work as hard as I can to support this situation and generate the awareness needed for it,” said Ramirez agent/promoter Rick Mirigian.
Avenal is well known to the Latino Water Coalition given that one of its more famous members Jose Ramirez, 2012 US Olympian, and now undefeated pro boxer calls Avenal home. Jose these past several years has been fighting for a more reliable water supply for California’s Central Valley to provide better employment for the tens of thousands of Latino farm workers that were unemployed due to the water supply shortages from both the prolonged drought and federal rules and regulations.
“The Latino Water Coalition along with Jose have generated tons of water awareness to millions of people and the boxing world via the Fight for Water series, I & II which set records in boxing for attendance, media, revenue and sponsorships. The upcoming Nationally Televised Fight on Top Rank's Solo Boxeo Tecate series televised on UniMas for Water III is set for this October 25 at the Selland Arena in Fresno. We will all look at the end the year with success on the Water Bond in California. Little did they expect that the city of Avenal and Jose’s hometown would be the first victim but in a sense what better town to fight for than your hometown," said executive director Mario Santoyo
