POMONA, CA (April 20, 2022) – Lightweight sensation, Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (5-0, 5 KOs), who has knocked out every opponent he has faced, will return on Thursday, May 12, 2022, against Jose Zaragoza (8-4-1, 2 KOs). The scheduled 6-round bout will take place in Montebello, California, at the Quiet Cannon Country Club, promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions airing live on UFC Fight Pass.
Mercado is one of the most active fighters in the lightweight division and has stopped his last four opponents in the first round, with his last being a 36-fight veteran in Daniel Evangelista Jr. (20-14-2, 16 KOs), who was thought could take him rounds. It is clear Mercado’s power is different compared to his peers. His upcoming fight against Zaragoza will be his third bout of 2022.
“I want to be the most feared lightweight in the world, I have stopped every opponent I have faced, and this fight will be no different as I plan to come out throwing bombs,” said Mercado, who looks to be the hardest-hitting lightweight prospect in the world right now. “I’m always looking for opponents to give me more rounds, but I’ve been getting them hurt early, and when that happens my instinct is to always go for the knockout. I know the next level of competition will be different where I will have to go the distance, but it’s been nice ending fights early. The goal is to stay as active as possible so I can get into the world title picture by the end of next year.”
Mercado will look to get his sixth knockout in a row on May 12th, and with his knockout power, appears to be one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing.
“My only focus right now is winning a world title and bringing it back to the gym with my father,” continued Mercado. “Everything is secondary to that goal. In 2022 I’ve been extremely active and it’s making me a better fighter, my confidence is at an all-time high. I want to be respected as the best lightweight of this era. I am chasing greatness, I think a lot of fighters now are not fighting with the pride you’d see in fighters from the 80s, and I am built from that cloth. I’m definitely like to consider myself as a throwback fighter”