October 21st was a knockout night for John “Scrappy” Ramirez. After a grueling 10-month wait, the undefeated super flyweight and South Central LA’s own dynamo pulverized Panamanian Ronal Batista, sending him to the mat twice in the DAZN’s closing round.
Ramirez, a 27-year-old whirlwind ranked No. 2 (with No. 1 unrated), squared off against No. 7 Batista and emerged as the top dog. This victory catapulted him to the No. 1 spot, setting him up as the mandatory challenger for WBA Super Flyweight World Champ Kazuto Ioka of Japan, the man who dethroned Joshua Franco last June.
“I’m not just sitting on my gloves,” Ramirez declared. “I’m hammering away in the gym, banking on me and my crew. If the Ioka showdown’s on hold, we’ll line up something big. I’ll pummel the next guy and keep my top contender spot. I’m honing my craft, getting sharper, while Ioka’s clock’s ticking.”
Ramirez, a dazzling fighter with Belizean and Honduran roots, has been on tenterhooks for his title shot news. Ioka has until June 24, 2023, for his mandatory defense. The buzz was all about Ioka facing Juan Francisco Estrada for a title unification on New Year’s Eve. But that plan fizzled, and now Ioka’s slated to clash with Venezuela’s Josber Perez.
In the meantime, Ramirez is in beast mode at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood, California, trading punches with Regis Prograis, who was gearing up for his bout against Devin Haney in San Francisco. Since his last fight, “Scrappy” has barged into The Ring magazine’s top 10.
Ramirez added, “Working with Regis prepping for Haney, that’s my grind. I’m hopping between camps, soaking up new tricks and styles. No beach time for me – I’m all about the next big camp, the next big fight. It keeps me sharp, hungry, and learning.”