Many fighters have that one opponent that brings out the
very best in them. In this case, Ramon had the cross-town rivalry with
Gilbert Ballantine. This is a lot like the classic rivalries in boxing
between Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Haggler and even in the
heavyweights with Joe Frasier vs. Ali. The classic opponent – they brought
out the best in each other - two Dutch guys going toe to toe. Ramon fought
G. Ballantine a total of 3 times.
Their 1st fight, took place on 8-10-1989 in the Jaap Edenhal in Amsterdam.
Ramon lost by decision. Ramon Dekkers had been fighting in Thailand a long
time. Actually, he had been fighting only Thais. He had been fighting the
Thai way. This fight with G. Ballantine was also a fight with elbows. Ramon
thought that it was going to be an easy fight for him. After all it was with
elbows and Thai rules. Ramon fought like a Thai in that fight – kicks, not
so many punches but only kicks to his body. Ramon had a cut on his eye but
it was not from Gilbert. One week before that fight, he was training with
someone in his gym and he got cut with an elbow. |
