Jose Ramirez is ready to jump back into the lion’s den.

The former 140-pound titlist from Avenal, California, offered an enthusiastic appraisal of his division, saying in a recent interview that as soon as he is able to, he wants to take on all the top contenders and titleholders.   

Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs), who is coming off a points decision over Jose Pedraza in March, recently had to bow out of a WBC title fight with southpaw Jose Zepeda because it conflicts with Ramirez’s wedding in October. The fight came about after the division’s undisputed champion Josh Taylor of Scotland relinquished the WBC belt. Ramirez owns a majority decision over Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) from their match in 2019. Zepeda is now on track to face Regis Prograis for the WBC strap.

In the meantime, Taylor is trying to pursue a rematch with Jack Catterall in November; Taylor narrowly—and controversially—won a decision over Catterall in their undisputed 140-pound title bout in February. The division also recently welcomed a new player, former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who made his debut at the weight in August with a stoppage over Pedro Campo.

Ramirez explicitly stated he does not want an "easy" opponent for his next fight and would prefer to fight one of those names.

“I’m anxious to get back in the ring,” Ramirez told Pro Boxing Fans. "I don’t want no easy fights. Everybody’s a little busy so I’d rather just wait and see what happens between Zepeda and Regis, what happens between Catterall and Josh Taylor, and even Teofimo too. Teofimo and some of the other young 140 pounders are coming up so I’d take anybody, bro.”

Ramirez singled out fights with Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs), a rematch with Zepeda, and a rematch with Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) as his top priorities; Ramirez dropped a decision to Taylor in their undisputed 140-pound title fight last May. Ramirez does not see why fighters in the 140-pound division can’t fight each other multiple times, given how competitive they are.

“Every fighter has the same amount of risk,” Ramirez said. “We’re a little under-promoted compared to other weight classes but I think that the best fights are at 140. You see guys fighting twice or three times, doing a trilogy. Honestly, I would love to face Regis, because I’ve never faced him. I would love to make the rematch with Zepeda, because he’s such a good fighter. Obviously I want Josh Taylor, man. I want Josh Taylor bad.”