Ernesto Mercado is set to lock horns with the seasoned fighter Deiner Berrio in a ten-round headliner at Box Fest VIII come April 5th. This showdown will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN from the swanky “Owl’s Nest” in Houston, hitting screens in over 200 places far and wide.
Mercado, boasting a flawless record of 13-0 with 12 KOs, steps into the ring for his first bout of 2024, eager to continue his rapid climb in the super lightweight division. After a busy 2023 that saw him secure four knockouts in five bouts, the Southern California prodigy is ready to dazzle at a Red Owl Boxing event for the first time. Last year, he floored former world title contender Hank Lundy in a jaw-dropping first-round knockout. At just 22, Mercado’s eyes are set on triumph as he edges closer to a shot at world title glory.
Berrio (22-4-1, 13 KOs), on the other hand, is geared up to halt Mercado’s meteoric rise. Hailing from Colombia, this fighter has squared off against seven unbeaten opponents and is no rookie when it comes to facing high-caliber talent like Mercado. At 33, Berrio has endured the long haul of 10-round fights seven times, while Mercado has only tasted the final bell once in his burgeoning career.
Box Fest VIII is more than just a fight night; it’s a festival of fists with up-and-comers, battle-hardened warriors, and edge-of-your-seat action, all kicking off at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. To catch every punch, head over to DAZN.com or download the app on your device of choice.
Nestled in the heart of the action, Red Owl Boxing’s “Owl’s Nest” boasts a seating capacity for over 1,500 fans, blending modern luxury with VIP experiences and exclusive ringside seats. This top-notch venue dazzles with high-end audiovisuals for an unmatched spectator experience, complete with state-of-the-art broadcasting tech for flawless streaming and TV showcases.
ERNESTO “TITO” MERCADO, JR.
BIRTHDATE: October 29, 2001
HOMETOWN: Pomona, Calif.
COACH: Ernesto Mercado, Sr.
WEIGHT CLASS: Super Lightweight (140 pounds)
HEIGHT: 5-10
RECORD: 14-0 (13 KOs)
GYM: G2G Boxing Club
2023 PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
NEXT FIGHT: April 5 vs. Deiner Berrio in Houston
While many young boxers are pulled into the gym by their fathers, for Ernesto “Tito”Mercado, Jr., it was the opposite. A four-year-old Mercado saw how often his father,Ernesto Sr., was in the gym with his uncle Israel, and decided that the boxing gym was the place he needed to be, right alongside his dad.
Mercado was hooked from day one and remembers living the life of a boxer, including 5 a.m. training sessions, even as a youngster. He loved the hours he spent in the boxinggym in their garage with his dad and everything that came along with the sweet science.
He had to wait until he was eight for his first official fight, and he still has vivid memories of that day. His Uncle Israel fought in the same event and Mercado still has the uniform from his boxing debut. Like many future boxing stars, Mercado lost his first fight, dropping a split decision. He would later get the chance to avenge the loss, which didn’t provide an accurate forecast for his future in the sport.
The 22-year-old has great memories of his stellar amateur career, from winning his first Silver Gloves title and the Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament award to racking up titles and accolades. He added junior and youth championships along the way and his success even took him internationally in 2019 when he traveled to Bulgaria as a member of the USA Boxing National Team and won a gold medal at the Emil Jechev Memorial Tournament. He finished second at the U.S. Olympic Trials before turning his focus to his father’s native Nicaragua. Mercado traveled to Central America multiple times, clinching his spot on their squad, but just as he prepared to head to the first international qualifying event, all the qualifiers were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the cancellation eliminated his opportunity to clinch his spot in Tokyo.
Mercado and his father quickly set their sights on the next chapter – professional boxing. He made his debut in the paid ranks on July 31, 2021, ironically during the Olympic Games. He scored a second round TKO, setting the tone for what fans would see from him as a pro.
While the dynamic duo didn’t internationally set out to take the independent route, they have fully navigated his professional career without a major promoter behind him and their unique path is certainly working. Mercado has built up a 14-0 record with 13 knockouts and his perfect resume boasts several well-known names. Mercado never shies away from a challenge, and he has a strong belief in himself and his skillset. He boasts knockout wins over Hank Lundy, Jeremiah Nakathila and Jayson Velez and says hat his ability to stop opponents who have given some of boxing’s top names a stiffer challenge has only added to his confidence.
He enters his fourth year as a pro fresh off a strong 2023 which included five victories, four by knockout and Prospect of the Year honors. Mercado believes that consistent activity is extremely important and aims to maintain his schedule of 5-6 fights a year in 2024. The super lightweight added a second-round knockout win to his record in February and will be back in the ring on April 5 for a 10-round main event against Deiner Berrio in Houston, Texas. The bout will be his DAZN debut and he plans to impress the fans in attendance and watching on the streaming network in his 15th fight. He hopes to become the first fighter to stop Berrio and introduce himself and his fan-friendly style to those seeing him for the first time.
Mercado his big plans for 2024, looking to add his name to the list of top fighters in the talent-laden super lightweight division and set himself up for a potential title shot by the end of the year or top of 2025.
He and his father have tackled every element of his boxing career together and while many father-son trainer relationships can be problematic for fighters, Mercado has had
the opposite experience. He says that his father is able to separate the roles and create the necessary boundaries of when to be his coach and when to be his dad. The twohave navigated the professional boxing world extremely skillfully and Mercado credits his father for teaching him patience and the understanding that things come in their proper time.
He also possesses a strong faith that he says plays a big role in his life both in and out of the ring. Ernesto Sr., created the Gangs to Grace Foundation to help the young people in their Pomona, Calif., community and the younger Mercado has seen the huge impact it has had on the youth in his area. He loves the chance to spend time with the kids who train alongside him at their gym and takes the time to work with them whenever his schedule allows.
A proud product of his mother’s Mexican descent and his father’s Nicaraguan heritage, Mercado consistently works to represent his roots well every time he steps in to a boxing ring.
He is the oldest of four siblings and lives with his family in Pomona, Calif., where he enjoys playing video games, hitting the golf course and thrill seeking when he’s not atthe boxing gym.