New York: John Ramirez got the name “Scrappy” from his football coach in middle school and continued to take a knack at competing on the soccer pitch and basketball court in Los Angeles The name stuck, back then it was that competitiveness that made him known as “Scrappy.”
It culminated with a love and passion for boxing, at 20-years of age has not slowed the progress and not a late start for an aspiring fighter. They test the waters and give it a shot. After all championships come and go, this time constant dedication to boxing has had no impact with age being a factor. You find “Scrappy” in the boxing gym often, Brickhouse Boxing in Los Angeles with trainer and coach Julian Chua.
“I started boxing to become a world champion,” Ramirez says. “That’s my main goal, second, I will sooner or later. I will want to avenge my loss versus David Jimenez, because I know he’s not better than me. “
He was referring to that lone blemish (17-1-0, 9 KO’S) to Jimenez, a super flyweight contender, a 12-round unanimous decision (April 2024) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY for the interim WBA title. The scores were wide in the co-support fight prior to the controversial David Haney-Ryan Garcia junior welterweight title clash promoted by Golden Boy Boxing and Oscar De Lay Hoya.
Ramirez accepted the defeat, two years later at times believing he won with judges scores going the other way (117-111 2x, 116-112.). It appeared to ringside observers to be closer on the scorecards, perhaps a draw.
Regardless he seeks redemption as most fighters do after a championship opportunity loss. Ramirez plans to travel later this month, Tokyo Japan and witness up close Jimenez defending his WBA junior bantam weight title versus number one contender Seigo Yuri Akuni. He wants the title no matter who prevails in Japan at Korakuen Hall.
“ I’m not waiting for him,” he said about Jimenez. “My main goal is the world title point blank. I don’t care about him. First is the world title. I started boxing at the age of 20. That’s not normal. I’m currently 30 now..” He has some Mexican heritage though Afro Latin, and says “I’m half Belizean, half Honduran.and then my mother is Guatemalan. He fights on and it’s all about boxing and a career.
Under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, working daily with Hall of Famer De La Hoya, chances are a title fight is imminent. They talk often, a working fighter-promotional relationship that has worked, not may do with the lucrative amount of money offered from other promoters that create buzz, at times their persistence becomes reality. Loyalty at times in boxing is difficult to find.
With two Doberman Pinscher dogs adorning Ramires’ lap at his home in Los Angeles, an extended part of his family, he said about De La Hoya “I have nothing to complain with Golden Boy. They got me where I wanted to and that was a world title. So I got the opportunity. It was on me where I didn’t capitalize, but it was a lesson learned. Now, also, you know, I’m working. There’s about five top promoters in the boxing world. Oscar Delahoya is the only promoter slash boxer, meaning he had a career, you know, as a fighter. So it’s a blessing to be to have him on my side and helping me pave my career my way.”
It works that way in boxing, some components of a nasty business go beyond expectations, then again some don’t. Ramirez, though has focus, knows the business side, history, basically a student of the sport. And on the right track fulfilling a goal from the first day he laced up the gloves.
“It’s not easy,” he said about the business and taking that championship loss in New York. “In order to get where I am today, you got to go through those hard moments. And that’s something that I understand. You know, my father installed that in me. So I’m just a little different when it comes to when we take losses, I like to tell people it’s not easy, but we’re hanging strong.”
That boxing mentality taking it one-step-at a time. The Hall of Fame champions that shine on the walls up in Canastota, NY related to the demands of a business and taking punches, championship fights that awaited their destiny. Ramirez has the experience and to him it’s just the beginning awaiting that next opportunity for a major title.
Charisma he has, tattoos laced over his body that all define something of importance. His style orthodox and built momentum with four straight wins, the latest via 10-round unanimous decision in early May over 15-5-2 Lucas Emanuel Fernandez at the San Jose Sap Center. HIs fights are streamed live on DAZN which leads to plenty of exposure.
“I have not reached my full potential as a boxer,” Ramirez said. “And, you know, one thing about boxing, I love boxing and I hate boxing. Sometimes boxing, man, I feel like. Like we feel like slaves, you know, it’s because the way the business is structured right now is the way the business is structured..”
But the structure of boxing is working for a fighter named “Scrappy.” A name that fits. Reach John “Scrappy Ramirez on IG @Scrappy Boxing
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