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World Super Flyweight Contender John Ramirez Waiting For
Jesse Rodriguez’ Final Decision
World super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez
(17-1, 9 KOs), currently ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing
Association (WBA), is still waiting for Jesse ‘Bam’
Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) to decide if he'll move up to
campaign as a bantamweight boxer, which would open Ramirez’
path to change for one of Rodriguez’ three super flyweight
world title belts.
“I’ve had some unique experiences the last 5 years,” LA
native Ramirez said. “In my soul, I haven’t fulfilled my
goal yet. I’m isolated and focused on that (winning a world
title). I have had extra time to travel and train with
friends like Regis Prograis in Texas to learn more and stay
refreshed.
“I just need to continue trusting the process in boxing. As
a fighter, I don’t like sitting around waiting for the
pieces to move. We have a plan and it includes options.
Regardless of the situation, I will continue to get better,
and most importantly keep winning.”
Rodriguez is the unified super flyweight world champion of
the WBA, World Boxing Organization (WBO), and World Boxing
Council. (WBC). Ramirez has been the WBA No. 1 contender
since this past January. He is also rated No. 6 by the WBO
and No. 12 by the WBC. Rumors were flying around that
Rodriguez was ready to relinquish his three super flyweight
crowns and would move up in weight to challenge one of the
world bantamweight champions.
Recent reports have Rodrigez, who was also a unified
flyweight world champion, moving up to challenge WBA
secondary bantamweight world champion Antonio Vargas
(18-1-1, 11 KOs) on June 13. However, Rodriguez is not
giving up his super flyweight title belts, at least not
right now, because he’s also leaving the door open to fight
Japan’s undisputed junior featherweight king Naoya “Monster”
Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs), who faces former IBF and WBC World
Bantamweight Champion Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani (32-0, 24
KOs) on May 2nd in Tokyo.
Where does that leave “Scrappy”?
Good question!
Wilbaldo Garcia Perez (23-6-2, 13 KOs) is the reigning
International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight World
Champion, but Ramirez isn’t rated among the top 15 by the
IBF to be eligible to fight Perez, who is scheduled to
defend his title on June 6 versus Andrew Maloney (28-4, 18
KOs).
The first time he was the No. 1 contender in the WBA,
“Scrappy” accepted a fight with David Jimenez (18-1, 12 KOs)
for the vacant WBA Interim Super Flyweight Championship.
Ramirez simply wasn’t ready for that challenge. The more
experienced Jimenez gave “Scrappy” the lone loss of his pro
career in their title fight, back on April 20, 2024, by way
of a 12-round unanimous decision. Jimenez, though, was
committed to his April 20th fight against Ayumu Sano
(11-0-1, 5 KOs) that was recently canceled.
A match versus future Hall of Famer Roman “Chocolatito”
Gonzalez (53-4, 42 KOs), the 5-time, 4-division world
champion from Nicaragua, who is ranked No, 2 by the WBA, is
certainly appealing to Rameriz, but the 38-year-old Gonzalez
has only fought once in each of the past two years.
Slim pickings are left for Ramirez, who understands the need
for his continued patience.
“It’s not an easy task,” Ramirez admitted. “All of these
questions will be answered in time. I can’t fight the
unknown. I’ll keep training hard, eating right, and
surrounding myself with good people. I’m grateful to my
promoter, Golden Boy, for giving me the right opportunities,
as well as my manager (David Shu, 3 Point Management), who
has gotten me the best fights available since I turned pro .
And, of course, my trainer, Julian Chua, who I see more of
than anybody in my life. I see him every day and he’s
sacrificed so much for me. Remember, he doesn’t get paid
unless I fight. Boxing is his life and I’m so lucky to have
somebody all-in like Coach, who cares so much about all his
fighters. This is the life I chose and I’m really enjoying
it.”
Ramirez, 29, last fought this past January 16th, in which he
won a 10-round decision over Byron Rojas (29-5-3, 12 KOs).
“Scrappy” is managed by 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has
a growing stable of gifted boxers including WBA & WBO
Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1,
30 KOs), WBA No. 1-rated world super flyweight title
contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs), former WBC
Light Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr “The Nail”
Gvozdyk (21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light
Heavyweight Champion, WBA No. 5-rated super middleweight
Darius Fulghum (14-1-1, 12 KOs), Canadian Kareem “Supreme”
Hackett (13-1, 7 KOs), Armenian featherweight Azat “Crazy A”
Hovhannisyan (23-6, 17 Kos), and German junior welterweight
Simon “Saucy” Vollmer (7-0, 3 KOs).
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