Matchroom continues to reload its U.S. steady.
The worldwide promotional outfit introduced its latest signing of blue-chip prospect Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado. The 22-year-old junior welterweight was readily available in the course of the Aug. 31 Diego Pacheco-Maciej Sulecki DAZN present in Carson, California. Each events confirmed the partnership.
“Positively on observe for superstardom,” Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn mentioned of his newest signing. “Battle information incoming for Tito. Large issues coming!”
Mercado (16-0, 15 knockouts) was the main candidate for 2023 Prospect of the Yr, and the award winner for BoxingScene.com. He fought and gained 5 instances on the 12 months to earn these accolades.
The 12 months noticed his lone distance battle, a lopsided ten-round victory over Xolisani Ndongeni final July 8 in Managua, Nicaragua. Mercado racked up knockouts in his different 4 outings. He went into the seventh spherical for the primary time earlier than he put away Jose Angulo final February 4 in Ontario, California. That was adopted by a first-round stoppage of former title challenger Hank Lundy final April.
A ten-round unanimous determination over Ndongeni was one and executed as Mercado rapidly resumed his knockout methods. He turned heads along with his second-round stoppage of sturdy and hard-hitting Jeremia Nakathila.
Three extra knockout wins have graced his energetic 2024 marketing campaign. Most lately, Mercado stopped Hector Sarmiento (21-3) within the third spherical on a July 27 DAZN present in Detroit, Michigan.
Your entire run got here with out the good thing about a significant promoter or televised platform behind him. That has modified exponentially. Mercado, educated and managed by his father ‘Neto’, now believes he has the muscle behind him to advance to the following degree.
“Clearly to turn into world champion is each fighter’s dream,” Mercado advised reporters throughout Saturday’s media scrum. “However I wish to turn into a famous person.
“I wish to construct with Matchroom, get a number of titles, battle everywhere in the world and conquer with Matchroom. That’s simply my dream.”