Junior bantamweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez is learning on the job and values the growth that comes with it.

Ramirez defeated Josue Jesus Morales on Saturday via an eight-round unanimous decision at the Honda Center, Anaheim, California. Ramirez started boxing in 2017 and is now rated No. 1 by the WBA at 115lbs. 

A former football player, the 5ft 4in Ramirez was a starter his freshman year at Los Angeles Valley, a junior college in Valley Glen, California. Ramirez wanted to one day be in the NFL, but getting good grades proved an early obstacle in his journey and he dropped out of school the following year. 

Ramirez’s first plan was to enlist in the Army or Marines, but he was denied. Then, he went to the Wild Card Boxing Gym after seeing a highlight video of Floyd Mayweather Jnr-Manny Pacquiao. 

Eight years later, he is a contender in the pro ranks.

“I am just trying to stay locked in for my career and my personal growth,” Ramirez, 29, told BoxingScene. “I am low in experience when it comes to boxing. I am doing the best that I can, while building my career.”

Ramirez, 15-1 (9 KOs), is a natural entertainer with an electric personality and things have happened fast. He started sparring top pros quickly and now has a major promotional push with Golden Boy Promotions. 

He is trained by up-and-coming trainer Julian Chua at Brickhouse Boxing. 

“The fact that some people compare me to [world class fighters] and see me as one of them is a compliment,” Ramirez said. “What they don’t know is when I am in the ring, I am learning as well.” 

Ramirez reflected on his football days, where he would often find himself playing slot receiver and, at times, running back. He could look up top and see a teammate and potentially envision a Cover-2 defense, but in boxing, it isn’t as fluid.

“I am starting to be free in what I do in boxing,” Ramirez said. “In football, there was no overthinking.”

Ramirez’s win over the 32-year-old Morales, 33-19-5 (14 KOs), of Houston, has him on a two-fight win streak since his lone career loss to David Jimenez. 

“In boxing, I have been learning, so I had to learn what is right and what is wrong,” Ramirez said. “So, with time, you get to see the reality of what it is. Now I have a better understanding."

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at .