ERNESTO MERCADO made some noise in more ways than one during his Matchroom debut in Las Vegas last night.
The 23-year-old super-lightweight extended his unbeaten record to 17-0 (16 KOs) with a fourth-round stoppage victory over former two-weight world champion Jose Pedraza, 29-7-1 (14 KOs). That brace of world titles, however, did come at super-featherweight and lightweight back in 2015 and 2018.
Nonetheless, Mercado knew he had to impress against the 35-year-old veteran and did so particularly at range. Pedraza may be nicknamed ‘Sniper’, but it was Mercado who picked off his target from a distance, targeting the body of his opponent throughout.
In his 37th contest, Pedraza could do little but follow the unbeaten prospect around the ring. Mercado continued to look good, though, and in round three, threw a wicked three-punch combination, then forced Pedraza with another thudding shot downstairs to rubber stamp his superiority.
The Mercado jab was effective, too, but not utilised as often as it should have been, but it mattered little because in round four ‘Tito’ picked off Pedraza with a counter-left, which staggered Pedraza before a punch behind the ear, sent the Puerto Rican down. Referee Robert Hoyle gave the count, and Pedraza, to his credit, got back up, but the unsteadiness of it was enough for Hoyle to wave the fight off.
“When I saw the perfect shot, I took him out,” Mercado told DAZN’s Chris Mannix afterwards.
“He was scared. He was scared to get countered with a good shot like these other fighters that have got no power like Keyshawn [Davis], like Shakur [Stevenson].”
Stevenson and Davis both campaign one division below at lightweight, but when asked what he wanted in 2025, Mercado made it clear by pointing to Stevenson, the current WBC 135lb champ, who was sat ringside.
“I want that punk right there sitting down in that blue sweatsuit,” Mercado said.
Stevenson responded immediately with his own verbal volleys but Mercado was the man on the mic.
“I’ll wide that gap between your teeth,” he said.
“Richardson Hitchins, who won the IBF [super lightweight title], I’m willing to whoop his ass first if this p***y ass is scared to fight me next.”
Prior to Mercado’s victory, his Uncle Israel, 11-1-2 (7 KOs), earned an unexpected majority draw against the Robert Garcia-trained Leonardo Rubalcava, 9-0-1 (3 KOs). Described as an “audition” for Rubalcava by the DAZN commentary team, promoter Eddie Hearn may have been unsure whether to offer a contract after a lacklustre display from the unbeaten super lightweight.
Mercado was on the floor in round one and later deducted a point in round seven for repeated low blows. But ‘Bad Ways’ Mercado did some good overall and proved to be a nightmare for Rubalcava with a relentless, awkward style that deserved more than the majority draw verdict after the eight-round televised opener.
