‘On Track For Superstardom’: Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado Signs For Matchroom Boxing
Matchroom Boxing has expanded its American stable of fighters after announcing the signing of super-lightweight prospect Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado.
Mercado (16-0-0 15 KO) has made seamless progress since turning professional in July 2021, knocking out all except one of his 16 opponents. He was in attendance for fellow Matchroom fighter Diego Pacheco’s spectacular stoppage win over Maciej Sulecki in Carson, California on Saturday.
“Everyone’s been talking about this young man,” Hearn said. “16-0, 15 knockouts, 140lb wrecking machine. And it’s a division we’re strong in; Liam Paro, the (IBF) world champion, Shakur Stevenson could be moving up, Subriel Matias, Dalton Smith, Jack Catterall, Regis Prograis – the list goes on, and we’ve got someone here who I believe is going to be a world champion.
“He’s a strong, strong fighter and now he has the platform with Matchroom and DAZN to move on to the big fights, and the path is there for him to become a superstar in the sport.”
California native Mercado has been busy during the early years of his pro career, following up three fights in the second half of 2021 with five bouts in 2022 and another five in 2023 when he was named runner-up to Bruce Carrington in The Ring Magazine’s Prospect of the Year list.
“Matchroom feels like a family,” Mercado said. “I feel comfortable and that they’re looking out for my best interests and will put on the best fights, which is what I’m looking for and I can’t wait to have those fights and contribute to making Matchroom the best promotional company in the game.
“Obviously to become world champion is every fighter’s dream,” Mercado added. “But I want to become a superstar. I want to build with Matchroom, get multiple titles, fight all over the world and conquer with Matchroom. That’s just my dream.”
By teaming up with Matchroom, Mercado will be guided by a major promoter for the first time in his career.
In his eighth pro fight, Tito won his first belt, collecting the North American Boxing Association’s USA super-lightweight title with a sixth-round knockout of Jayson Velez in Ontario, California. He defended his title twice, both by stoppage.
Mercado has fought three times this year, traveling to Mexico in February to knock out Cristian Bielma in the second round in Tijuana before heading to Houston less than two months later to stop Deiner Berrio in the third. His most recent fight was in July when he forced Hector Edgardo Sarimento to retire after three rounds.
Tito is not yet ranked in the top 15 by any of the four major sanctioning bodies and is yet to fight a recognizable name, although the combined record of his opponents so far reads 270 wins against 88 losses, with the majority of them holding winning records.
Mercado has reached this stage of his career – where he is ranked as the ninth-best super-lightweight in the United States by Boxrec – without a promoter or any broadcaster support.
Matchroom will no doubt help change all that and he joins a growing stable of Americans to entrust their careers with the UK-based, albeit global, promotional company.
Among the US fighters under Hearn’s guidance include WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, who signed with Matchroom last month after leaving Top Rank, IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, super-flyweight pound-for-pound star Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, and women’s undisputed super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner.
