Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado is glad the third time’s the attraction.
After just a few cancellations, Mercado, a candidate for The Ring’s 2023 Prospect of the Yr award, returns to the ring Saturday evening, going through Christian Bielma on the Evolution Membership in Tijuana, Mexico.
At Friday’s weigh-in, each Mercado and Bielma weighed in on the contracted weight of 143 kilos.
Mercado (13-0, 12 knockouts), who resides in Pomona, California, was initially scheduled to struggle Argentina’s Victor Santillan in a stay-busy struggle on a card in Hawaiian Gardens, California on February 10. Father and coach, Ernesto, Sr., claimed Santillan weighed 157 kilos at a pre-fight weigh-in the day earlier than the struggle.
Due to the discrepancy in Santillan’s weight and the contracted weight, Mercado made the choice to not undergo with the struggle.
“Santillan requested me if the struggle might go forward at 157 kilos,” Ernesto Mercado, Sr. advised The Ring. “‘Tito’ fights at 140 kilos and we even made the concession to maneuver up the contracted weight to 143 kilos as a result of Santillan had advised us earlier within the week he was having bother making the load.
“My son at all times makes weight for each struggle. He by no means is available in too heavy and we at all times honor the weights which are on the contract for a struggle. My son is an expert about that. This man (Santillan) was unprofessional and I couldn’t imagine he would are available at that weight and wish the struggle to proceed.”
Mercado was initially scheduled to struggle on January 27 in close by Commerce, however an opponent was not finalized.
The 22-year-old has not fought since November 11, when he stopped fringe junior light-weight and light-weight contender Jeremia Nakathila within the second spherical. In his earlier struggle on August 26, Mercado dropped Carlos Portillo twice en path to a first-round knockout victory.
Mercado fought 5 occasions in 2023.
Bielma (19-6-2, 7 KOs), who resides in Mexicali, Mexico, final fought on September 1, shedding by unanimous determination to Misael Cabrera Urias. Bielma beforehand fought on January 13 of final yr, shedding a one-sided determination to unbeaten Mazlum Akdenis.
The 30-year-old has misplaced three of his final 5 bouts.
The Mercado-Bielma struggle is a part of a Gonzalez Boxing Promotions card.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected]
Comply with @FSalazarBoxing
