[Photo: Valley Children’s]FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – WBC Champion Jose Ramirez will auction off a championship belt to raise funds for Valley Children’s Hospital.
The belt is a one-of-a-kind replication of the exact same belt he won March 17, 2018, at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The belt is signed by Ramirez, famed boxing promoter Don King, Top Rank CEO and boxing legend Bob Arum, and Ramirez’s championship fight opponent, Amir Imam.
“As someone who was raised right here in Central California, I know the impact Valley Children’s Hospital makes every day for kids growing up here,” Ramirez said. “Kids get the very best care our region has to offer, regardless of their ability to pay. I’m glad to be able to help families in their time of need.”
Valley Children’s Spokesperson Zara Arboleta says money goes to their Patient Services Fund
“Some of our families end up in the hospital for days, weeks, months at a time, many of them don’t live close by, so they are coming in from other counties and so they need some financial assistance,” said Arboleta. “So, Jose Ramirez specifically wanted to earmark this money to go directly to programs that help families, so this is one of those programs that help families.”
To place a bid on this one-of-a-kind item, please call Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation at (559) 353-7100.
The highest bid as of Friday, July 6 at 3 p.m. PST will be the winner. Photographs and information about the belt are available at: http://www.valleychildrens.org/foundation/joseramirezbelt.
Jose Ramirez will make the first defense of his WBC super lightweight title against former amateur standout and longtime contender Danny O’Connor on Saturday, July 7, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno.
The winner of the belt auction will be announced that night in the ring and will be personally awarded the belt.
Following the fight, the winner will meet Ramirez and Arum.
The belt will be displayed at the Fresno County Historical Museum at the Fresno Fairgrounds from Monday, June 18 to Friday, July 6, providing a chance for the public to see the belt firsthand.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
