John “Scrappy” Ramirez is a No. 1-ranked contender at junior bantamweight, yet he could be forgiven for feeling as if he’s locked in boxing no-man’s land.
Ramirez, a 17-1 (9 KOs) fighter born and raised in Los Angeles, was the WBA’s top-ranked 115-pounder back in April 2024 when he faced David Jimenez for the vacant interim belt, dropping a unanimous decision. It simply wasn’t Ramirez’s time. After quickly building himself back with wins over Ephraim Bui, Josue Jesus Morales and, most recently, Byron Rojas, Ramirez recaptured the sanctioning body’s No. 1 spot – only to learn that he had hurried up to wait.
Now Ramirez tries to maintain patience while others sort out their plans and the politics of top-level matchmaking play out just out of his reach. Current unified junior bantamweight champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez holds not only the WBA title but also two more sanctioning body belts, slowing the gears of progress in the division across three organizations (Ramirez is ranked No. 12 by the WBC and No. 6 by the WBO). The IBF, where Willibaldo Garcia stands atop the 115lbs mountain? It’s the one organization that doesn’t have Ramirez in its top 15.
“I just need to continue trusting the process in boxing,” Ramirez said, which a cynic of the sport would describe as famous last words. “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.”
Against whom and, perhaps most importantly, when is the question for the 29-year-old Ramirez. A late bloomer who came to boxing after a college football career and a cup of coffee in the amateurs (11 fights), Ramirez turned pro less than six years ago. But the clock is already ticking in a division where the wheels can come off for fighters in their early-30s.
“In my soul, I haven’t fulfilled my goal yet,” Ramirez said of the prize – an elusive world title. “I’m isolated and focused on that.”
Isolated in the rankings, perhaps, but not alone. He cites the “unique experiences” of recent years, plus the support of a network that includes (among others) friend, training partner and former junior welterweight titleholder Regis Prograis; promoter Golden Boy; manager David Shu; and especially trainer Julian Chua.
“I see him every day, and he’s sacrificed so much for me,” Ramirez said of Chua. “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.”
Will he feel the same if he doesn’t soon secure a fight with Rodriguez, who seems to be targeting undisputed junior featherweight champ Naoya Inoue and secondary bantamweight titleholder Antonio Vargas, in that order? Might he land a rematch with interim belt holder Jimenez and inch up the pecking order? There aren’t a great number of other fights that even move the needle for Ramirez while he marks time awaiting his title shot.
None of it, though, has steered him off his intended course.
“It’s not an easy task,” Ramirez said. “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.”
Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.
