Best of lightweights past and present battle at Agon V

CEDAR RAPIDS - The best of the past and the present are set to collide.

Henry Cejudo captured gold at the lightest weight for the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. He held the spot former University of Iowa NCAA champion Tony Ramos holds, representing the U.S. World Team at the current 125 ½-pound spot.

They will face off in the co-main event of Agon V: Iowa against the World event Friday at the U.S. Cellular Center, starting at 7:30 p.m. The competition is expected to include eight freestyle matches.

'I think it's awesome, especially being in Iowa in front of the best fans in the USA,” Ramos said. 'It's a chance to compete against who, at one point, was the best competitor in the world around my weight class.”

The pair has an interesting connection. Ramos, a three-time All-American and two-time national finalist for Iowa, has continued his career with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, training under Iowa associate head coach Terry Brands. Cejudo won his Olympic gold while work with Brands, who was USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Resident Coach from 2005-08 before returning to Iowa City.

'(Cejudo) was a Terry Brands made guy,” Ramos said. 'Right now, that's my role and that's what I want. I want Terry to be known for me and not him.”

Brands said his role was to help them realize their potential and a good coach helps an athlete get the best out of themselves.

'They are both extremely confident in their abilities,” Brands said. 'They both possess great skills and great athletic attributes that they can harness with their mind and emotions to go forward to become the best wrestlers they can become. They are very similar that way.”

Brands has helped Ramos prepare for the upcoming match. He has not been involved in Cejudo's training since 2008, including his comeback bid in 2012 that saw him compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The two have different styles on the mat.

'Henry is explosive,” Brands said. 'He got a lot of mileage out of his speed, hitting things and putting guys down quickly with being able to flurry.

'Tony is more of a hands-on grinder guy. He's very physically strong with his hands and explosive in the positions he remains or stays in.”

Ramos has crossed paths with Cejudo in the past, even though they missed each other as U.S. representatives when Cejudo won his Olympic title in 2008 and Ramos was a Junior World Team member in 2009.

Ramos recalled a camp at his Glenbard North (Ill.) High School that Cejudo worked, demonstrating moves on Ramos. The two were at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., during Cejudo's comeback bid in 2012. The two never wrestled live in practice. Ramos said Cejudo declined each time.

'I don't know why,” Ramos said. 'I took it personal; because it was something that I felt I had a point to prove there's new blood coming up. At the same time, why wouldn't you want to wrestle with me? Is he afraid? Does he have something to lose? That was going through your head, too.”

He will get the long-awaited opportunity to battle Cejudo. Ramos said he wants to erase any hopes of Cejudo, or anyone else, contending for his the U.S. team.

'I have to go out and perform overseas on the international level,” Ramos said. 'This will put a big mark on it, too, and (end) the talk of Henry ever coming back.”

Ramos has never shied away from proclamations. He promised the scheduled bouts will be entertaining. Fans have the chance to watch former Hawkeyes, including main-event performer Brent Metcalf, former Linn-Mar prep Matt McDonough, former Iowa City West prep Derek St. John and Phil Keddy.

Three Iowa commits - Michael Kemerer, Justin Mejia and Alex Marinelli - will compete in matches, featuring top high school talent.

'I think there are going to be a lot of good matches,” Ramos said. 'Even the undercard is going to be exciting and not just for Iowa fans, but college fans with a preview of many years to come.”

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