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Boxing’s youngest sought-after free agent continues to wager on himself in an aggressive market.
A agency plan is in place for Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado to quickly advance from younger prospect to rising contender. The 22-year-old from Pomona, California ranked excessive in The Ring’s 2023 Prospect of the 12 months race and was awarded the glory by a number of different retailers.
“To have the ability to accomplish what I did with no promoter actually confirmed so much,” Mercado advised The Ring. “I look ahead to doing much more in 2024.”
Mercado (14-0, 13 knockouts) enters his second struggle of 2024 versus Los Angeles-based Colombian journeyman Deiner Berrio (22-4-1, 13 KOs). Their scheduled ten-round junior welterweight bout headlines a DAZN present from the Crimson Owl Boxing Enviornment in Houston, Texas.
It comes simply 5 weeks after he lodged a second-round knockout of Cristian Bielma. The bout occurred on February 24 in Tijuana, and solely after two canceled struggle dates earlier within the yr.
The win allowed Mercado to keep up his energetic in-ring tempo, having fought and received 5 occasions in a stellar 2023 marketing campaign. The yr noticed his lone distance struggle, 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. It was adopted by a surprising first-round stoppage of former title challenger Hank Lundy final April.
A ten-round unanimous determination over Ndongeni was adopted by early knockouts of Carlos Portillo and the usually sturdy and hard-hitting Jeremia Nakathila. The complete run got here with out the good thing about a significant promoter or televised platform behind him.
“It’s all about remaining energetic and towards the kind of fighters I’m dealing with,” famous Mercado. “For me, it’s extra so the exercise sensible towards that stage. I used to be decided to win Prospect of the 12 months and felt I deserved it.
“However now I really feel like I’ve already moved into the contender stage. I don’t know the place different folks take into account me. However so far as I’m involved, I’m already a contender.”
That kind of confidence comes from a powerful stage of belief with the one man he trusts along with his profession.
His father, Ernesto ‘Neto’ Mercado, has not solely served as his son’s motivation however turned to his offspring to wash up his personal act. The elder Mercado overcame drug abuse and gang life to dedicate all his time to his household and his group. Their ‘Gangs To Grace’ basis is aimed to maintain neighborhood youngsters off the streets.
“For my dad to show round his life and likewise assist different youngsters was at all times inspiring,” said Mercado. “To do all that whereas by no means sacrifice the time he’s taken to boost us and train me the game is one thing I’ve by no means taken without any consideration. It makes me strategy to keep on the right track.
“I wish to make him proud, simply as I’m happy with him.”
The youthful Mercado has definitely finished his half. The short-term plan is to proceed that by means of Friday after which transfer on to the kind of fights that put him within the sweepstakes in a stacked 140-pound division.
There isn’t any scarcity of star energy on the prime stage. Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) is The Ring champ and likewise holds the WBO title, which he’ll defend versus Steve Claggett on June 29 in Miami.
Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), No. 1 at 140, will defend his WBC title versus Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York. Subriel Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), No. 3 at 140, dangers his IBF belt versus Liam Paro on June 15 in Manati, Puerto Rico. Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) not too long ago received the WBA belt with a ninth-round knockout of Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (15-2, 13 KOs).
Lopez has been with Prime Rank and ESPN by means of his whole profession. Cruz is backed by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and a fixture on the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) circuit.
Matias discovered success underneath the PBC banner by means of career-long promoter Juan Orengo. He has not too long ago entered a co-promotional settlement with Matchroom Boxing and can now struggle on DAZN.
Haney has masterfully performed the free agent market as he’s conquered two divisions and the pound-for-pound rankings.
These odds on the prime stage are greater than sufficient for Mercado to stay satisfied of his present plan of action.
“From the start, we determined that we have been going to do that on our personal,” insisted Mercado. “My dad and me, we prefer it this manner. We get to struggle wherever and nevertheless many occasions we wish with out being restricted by a promoter and TV dates.
“It’s sort of dope. We prefer it higher to have the ability to dictate and management our profession. To have the ability to do the sort of issues our means, I’m actually having fun with it.”
Jake Donovan is a senior author for The Ring and vp of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.Comply with @JakeNDaBox
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