Unbeaten Ernesto “Tito” Mercado has signed a promotional deal with Southern California-based DMG Promotions, a move the 24-year-old 140lbs fighter believes will keep him busy and position him for a title run.
Mercado 18-0 (17 KOs), of Pomona, California, is scheduled to return June 19 at his hometown Fox Theater.
Ranked No. 5 by the WBO and No. 8 by the IBF, Mercado last fought on DAZN for prior promoter Matchroom in December, knocking out veteran Mexican opponent Antonio Moran in the sixth round.
His next opponent has yet to be announced, but Mercado has remained training and fit and predicted he will look “super sensational.
‘I’m itching to get back and hungry to get in the ring again, having a homecoming fight,” Mercado told BoxingScene Wednesday.
“We’re ready to fight the best guys now. It’s one step at a time. I’ll be busy, and we have big plans coming forward.”
Mercado has previously called out four-division champion Shakur Stevenson, who wears the WBO 140lbs belt and is reportedly near a union with Zuffa Boxing.
Mercado would also like a crack at WBO No. 2 ranked Emiliano Vargas.
His father-trainer-manager, Ernesto Mercado Snr., said aligning with a Southern California promoter met their immediate goals to fight locally with the flexibility to work with major promotions as the quality of the fights increase.
He declined to discuss the financial terms or length of the deal.
“We want to be home grown, not a road warrior jumping around like a Ping-Pong ball,” Ernesto Mercado said.
