The Boxing Truth®: John Ramirez

Showing posts with label John Ramirez. Show all posts

Sunday, November 1, 2026

No. 1 Super Flyweight Contender John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez To be in attendance for Akui vs. Jimenez ‘Scrappy’ to fight the winner

Credit: Bob Trieger Full Court Press

Press Release: By November 1, 2026 By Bob Trieger Full Court Press - LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2026)

– World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 1 ranked, mandatory super flyweight challenger

(17-1, 9 KOs) remains on standby for his much anticipated world title fight after the WBA recently granted a special permit to its World Super Flyweight Champion,

David “Medallita” Jimenez

(18-1, 12 KOs), to make a voluntary defense instead of his mandatory it had previously ordered for him to defend his title against Ramirez.

Jimenez will now fight WBA No. 2-rated

Seigo Yuri Akui

(22-3-2, 12 KOs), on November 29

in Tokyo. The winner of this bout must face Ramirez in a mandatory title defense within 120 days of the aforementioned Jimenez-Akui fight. In the event of a draw, Jimenez will be required to finally fulfill his mandatory obligation and fight “Scrappy” within the same timeframe.

The WBA had previously ordered on September 21, 2026, that Jimenez face Ramirez. The negotiating period started September 18 and was supposed to close on October 18, 2026. If the parties had failed to reach an agreement, or if either party declined to continue to negotiate, the WBA Championships Committee may have called for a purse bid in accordance with WBA rules.

The request to void Jimenez’ mandatory was submitted on Sept. 22 by Teiken Promotions.

“I still trust the process, which I’ve been saying all along, because nothing is promised in boxing,” Ramirez commented. “They (WBA) allowed him Jimenez) to defend his title against Akui in Japan, and I get the winner. It’s not what I wanted but that’s what happened. Let the pieces fall where they may. Greatness takes patience.”

The 30-year-old Ramirez, fighting out of South-Central Los Angeles, has fought four times since his loss to Jimenez, including two in 2026. “Scrappy” was installed by the WBA as its No. 1, mandatory challenger, positioning him in that slot back in January for the second time during his professional career.

Jimenez defeated Ramirez on April 24, 2024, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision in Brooklyn to capture the WBA Interim Super Flyweight title. When

Jessie “Bam” Rodriguez

relinquished his WBA Super Flyweight World title to move up one weight class, Jimenez was elevated from WBA Interim Champion to WBA Super Flyweight World Champion on June 13, 2026.

“Everything I’ve been going through has made me a better man and fighter,” Ramirez said. “Even if it’s been stressful and got me down sometimes, that is all part of chasing my dream (to be world champion). I don’t really care who wins that fight. I’m focused on winning the world title and I’ll be next. Me redeeming myself in the rematch (with Jimenez) would make the story sweeter, but I’ve been boxing 10 years and this is the second time I’ve been in this position. Not many fighters get one world title shot, never mind two, and that will be my time to finish.”

“Scrappy” is allowed to participate in a bout without a title at risk during the interim period, which would be risky considering anything but victory would eliminate him challenging the Nov. 29 winner for the crown.

“I may take a stay busy fight but this just happened,” Ramirez explained,” and my team is discussing our options. I’m open to fighting in Japan as long as I get my title shot. One of my goals has been to fight in Japan to grow my market. Japan is where a lot of the top fighters are from in my weight class and I’d take a big fight there.”

In addition to former WBC World Flyweight Champion Aku, other world-class super flyweights from Japan also include WBO Super Flyweight World Champion

Kenshiro Teraji

(26-2, 16 KOs), former world amateur champion

Tomoya Tsuboi

(3-1, 2 KOs),

Kenta Nakagawa

(27-5-1, 14 KOs), and

Ryusei Kawaura

(14-2, 9 KOs).

The beat goes on for “Scrappy” Ramirez, arguably the most patient boxer in the world.

“Scrappy” is managed by 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers former including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez

(48-2, 30 KOs), WBA No. 5-rated world super middleweight

Darius “DFG” Fulghum

(15-1-1, 13 KOs), former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion

Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk

(21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion, 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).

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Bob Trieger Full Court Press Used with permission

Thursday, August 6, 2026

No. 1 Super Flyweight contender John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez In Holding Pattern

Credit: Golden Boy Promotions

Press Release: August 6, 2026 By Bob Trieger - Full Court Press - LOS ANGELES

–- Colorful Los Angeles professional boxer

John “Scrappy” Ramirez

(17-1, 9 KOs) was elevated to the No. 1 position in the super flyweight division of the World Boxing Association (WBA) back in January for the second time during his professional career.

Ramirez is also rated No. 5 and No. 11, respectively, by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC).

After

Jessie “Bam” Rodriguez

relinquished his WBA Super Flyweight World title to move up one weight class, WBA Interim Super Flyweight Champion,

David “Medallita” Jimenez

(18-1, 12 KOs) was elevated to WBA Super Flyweight World Champion on June 13, 2026.

It was expected that the WBA would order Jimenez to defend his new title against Ramirez, whose only loss was to Jimenez in 2024, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBA Super Flyweight Interim title in Brooklyn.

Jimenez and the WBA, though, have been holding the WBA Super Flyweight World title hostage. The Costa Rican hasn’t fought since July 20, 2025, and being inactive for more than a full year normally results in the title holder being stripped, or if injured, made Champion in Recess. Instead, rumors have circulated that WBA No. 2-rated

Seigo Yuri Akui

(23-3-1, 13 KOs) would challenge Jimenez next.

Fighting out of South Central Los Angeles, “Scrappy” has shown the patience of a saint waiting for a deal in which he would fight Jimenez in a rematch for the WBA crown.

“I’ve been here before (WBA No. 1 contender) and I learned through the process from the previous time I fought him,” Ramirez said. “All I can control is me. I’ve continued working on my skills in the gym (Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, CA). I leave the business side to my team and God.

"My team and I ran into his (Jimenez) manager in Las Vegas at the Capetillo Boxing Gym, where he told us he'd agreed to the rematch —he's gone radio silent ever since. They know they're on borrowed time, and it's only a matter of time before that belt is mine."

"Becoming a WBA World Champion has been my dream ever since my first conversation with the President, Gilberto Mendoza. The WBA are the true pioneers of the sport, and I can't wait for my shot to bring the belt home."

“Now, I’m experienced in boxing. I was undefeated (the last time he was No. 1) and I lost to Jimenez. I took that opportunity and I’m different this time. I want payback, a redemption, and I use that as a source of motivation. In boxing, you see fighters rise to the top and fall. I did but I didn’t complain. Actions speak louder than words. I stayed focused. I’m No. 1 again and took a different path than other fighters. It shows what type of person I am. Boxing is unfair and physically taxing. I stayed focused.”

Jimenez, 34, only defended his WBA Interim title twice, winning a 12-round decision from

Keyvin Lara

(32-6-1) in Costa Rica , and knocking out

Kenburn Torres

(15-5) in Kyrgyzstan. Ramirez had fought four times since his loss to Jimenez, including two this year.

Because of the lack of an amateur background and relatively late start in boxing, the now 30-year-old Ramirez isn’t the same fighter who faced Jimenez nearly 1 ½ years ago. At that time, Jimenez’ had already gained world title experience, suffering this lone loss to date, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, to then-defending WBA Flyweight World Champion

Artem Dalakian

(21-0, 15 KOs) in London.

“We have history and it shouldn’t be difficult matching the champion and No. 1 contender,” Ramirez continued. “This fight has to happen. It is one of the most exciting fights in the super flyweight division. I wasn’t ready when we fought, the proof is in the pudding. I was capable but not complete at that moment. I had to get the experience I did to be the fighter I am today. I only lacked experience.”

“‘Scrappy’ is a different fighter now because he proved something to himself in that last fight,” Ramirez’ fast-rising young head trainer

Julian Chu

a added. “He proved he belonged with the best in the world. In doing that, though, he got drawn into Jimenez’ kind of fight, and unfortunately he came up short. That’s part of the learning process. Next time, you’ll ee a fighter who is comfortable staying true to himself and his style. He doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. Now it’s about fighting smart, fighting disciplined, and making the other guy adjust to him.”

In other words, it’s “Scrappy Time!”

“I’ll fight him (Jimenez) anywhere, anyplace, anytime,” Ramirez concluded. “This is the life I chose. To beat the best, I need to roll the dice, and I’m going to continue doing just that. I see myself as world champion.”

“Scrappy” is managed by 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers former including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez

(48-248-2, 30 KOs), WBA No. 5-rated world super middleweight