John “Scrappy” Ramirez is focused on his fight this week with an eye toward a potential clash with Kenshiro Teraji down the line.
Ramirez faces Byron Rojas in a 10-round junior bantamweight title contest at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.
Ramirez, 15-1 (9 KOs), is on a two-fight winning streak since his loss to David Jimenez in a bout contested for the interim WBA junior bantamweight title. Now the landscape for the 29-year-old Ramirez’s division is changing once again. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has solidified himself as the top guy. Rodriguez holds three of the four major titles, and would need to face the IBF titleholder Wilbaldo Garcia Perez to become undisputed. Perez had to withdraw from a December 27 bout against Teraji when he was hospitalized after the ceremonial weigh-in. Despite Teraji never having fought in the division, Ramirez targets him as a future foe, as Teraji is currently a two-division titleholder who would be looking to become a three-division titleholder this year.
“I want the type of performance that could land me a fight against Kenshiro Teraji in Japan,” Ramirez said. “I respect the Japanese fighters, because they are technical fighters with the spirit of a samurai.”
Ramirez is skeptical that the three-belt titleholder Rodriguez will remain in the division. Ramirez is currently the No.1 contender for the WBA junior bantamweight title. Rodriguez holds the outright title, while Jimenez, his old foe, holds the interim title.
“I think he leaves,” Ramirez said of “Bam.” “I think he moves up in weight.
Ramirez burst on the scene with little amateur experience but a background as a football player and was signed by Golden Boy Promotions in 2023. A year later, he found himself in a title fight. He lost that fight to Jimenez, a fight that in hindsight, he wants to rematch with different tactics. Last year was a year of reflection. Ramirez had just one fight, defeating Jesus Morales in June via a unanimous decision.
“My father told me there is a time and place for everything,” Ramirez said. “This is my time and my place, and I will make the best out of this window.”
Ramirez hopes the studying he has done away from the spotlight with his trainer, Julian Chua will lead to performances that opens the door for bigger opportunities.
“If you are not evolving, you are wasting time,” Ramirez said. “My main goal is to become a better fighter. I need to pay attention to what is in front of me, and to do that, I have put on blinders.”
Rojas, 29-5-3 (12 KOs), is a former WBA strawweight titleholder. He held that belt in 2016 after defeating South African Hekkie Budler. Now, the 35-year-old Nicaraguan will box at junior bantamweight for just the second time. Rojas lost a split decision to Andy Dominguez at junior flyweight in July.
“One thing I have learned with boxing is every fight is a big fight, and every fight is a make-or-break situation,” Ramirez said. “He is going to come to win, and that is what I want. The path that I am taking is not an easy one.”
