No. 1 Super Flyweight Contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez In Holding Pattern Waiting In Holding Pattern Patiently Waiting for WBA To Order His Dream World Title Fight (Rematch)

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 has 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 Chua 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 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).

Click Here to Order Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt