John Ramirez has been hanging about, eager to get his mitts on a world title fight against WBA Super Flyweight champ Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16 KOs). The powers that be at the WBA told both sides to sort it out by February 15th, or it’d be down to a purse bid for the fight against Ramirez.
But just as the clock was ticking down, word on the street is that Ioka, through his promoters, fancies a different scrap – a unification bout against WBC champ Juan Francisco Estrada in Tokyo this July, leaving Ramirez in the lurch.
Ramirez isn’t throwing his toys out of the pram, though. “You’ve got to roll with the punches,” he says. “I’ve got faith in the process and my team. It’s all about keeping your eye on the prize and not losing your rag.”
Ramirez fancies himself as a bit of a throwback to the old days, talking about defending his title multiple times a year before moving up a weight class. He’s been in the WBA’s ear, convinced he’ll get his shot at Ioka next.
“I’m up for the fight anywhere – Japan, the moon, you name it,” Ramirez declares. “I get why Ioka might be dodging me. I’m a threat. But I’m not sweating it. The journey’s part of the fun, even if you don’t have all the answers.”
“Scrappy” made a splash last October, knocking Ronal Batista off his perch in the fourth round of their fight, earning him the top contender spot for Ioka’s belt. Ioka, a seasoned champ across four divisions, nabbed the WBA title last June with a win over Joshua Franco.
When an Ioka-Estrada bout didn’t come off last New Year’s Eve, Ioka had a go at Josber Perez instead, finishing him in the seventh round. Estrada’s last dance was against Roman Gonzalez last December, sealing their trilogy with a win.
Now, with Ioka eyeing Estrada instead of him, Ramirez is hoping the WBA will step in and make Ioka fight him within 90 days or strip him of the title.
Ramirez is all but ready to declare himself the champ, saying, “I’ve been champion material for ages, just need the belt to show for it. That WBA title’s as good as mine.”
All Ramirez is after is the title fight he’s worked his socks off for.