Tito ready to prove a point
Boxing
Jeremiah 'Low Key' Nakathila's light welterweight fight just after midnight on Sunday morning (Namibian time) against Ernesto 'Tito' Mercado of the USA in Ontario, California, has generated unprecedented interest in the USA due to Mercado's reputation.
The 21-year-old Mercado (12 fights, 12 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws, 11 knock-outs) wants to prove himself as the best up-and-coming boxer for 2023 in this weight class by sending Nakathila (33) to dreamland.
Tito made his professional debut in July 2021. This year, he got rid of robust competitors such as Henry Lundy (USA) and Xolisani Ndongeni (South Africa).
Lundy (39) lost each of his last six fights, while Ndongeni (33) won his last five fights on a streak before Mercado stopped him by unanimous decision. Both Lundy (46 f, 31 w, 14 l, 1 d, 14 KOs) and Ndongeni (34 f, 31 w, 3 l, 18 KOs) are experienced boxers, but Lundy is long past his prime.
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In 2023, Mercado also beat José Marcos Angulo (27) from Ecuador (22 f, 15 w, 7 l, 8 KOs) with a knockout in February. More recently, in August, he knocked out Carlos Manuel Portillo (30) of Paraguay. Portillo has a record of 28 f, 23 w, 5 l and 17 KOs.
However, Tito is a brutal puncher and lightning quick, with dynamite in both fists. He has that "killer instinct" that many boxers can only dream of.
Mercado says the showdown versus Nakathila will show that he is ready to make the leap against more bona fide competition. Tito says he wants to box for a few rounds just to show off his footwork and ingenuity before he goes into action.
Mercado told Boxingscene.com: “Nakathila not only has the experience, but he's fought the top guys and done well against them. He is the perfect fighter to showcase my skills against, and it will definitely advance my career.
“It will make me grow, and that's what we want – fights against guys who aren't just in it for the money. I want to prove that I am on the level of Shakur Stevenson and Raymond Muratalla. I want to be mentioned in the same breath as the top names. I deserve to be there.
“I'm the best prospect in this sport because of not only my skills but also the challenges I'm willing to take and the guys I've already beaten. No other boxer has the record or is willing to fight the guys I've already fought. I don't think it should even be considered who’s the best. I am the best, as I have already proven. Beating Nakathila will definitely make me the prospect of the year.
“I think I want to box a bit more against Nakathila and show people that I know how to move around the ring. I just want to show something a little different. Spectators have already seen my power, but I want to box a little more and then plant the knockout."
– [email protected]
The 21-year-old Mercado (12 fights, 12 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws, 11 knock-outs) wants to prove himself as the best up-and-coming boxer for 2023 in this weight class by sending Nakathila (33) to dreamland.
Tito made his professional debut in July 2021. This year, he got rid of robust competitors such as Henry Lundy (USA) and Xolisani Ndongeni (South Africa).
Lundy (39) lost each of his last six fights, while Ndongeni (33) won his last five fights on a streak before Mercado stopped him by unanimous decision. Both Lundy (46 f, 31 w, 14 l, 1 d, 14 KOs) and Ndongeni (34 f, 31 w, 3 l, 18 KOs) are experienced boxers, but Lundy is long past his prime.
Fast
In 2023, Mercado also beat José Marcos Angulo (27) from Ecuador (22 f, 15 w, 7 l, 8 KOs) with a knockout in February. More recently, in August, he knocked out Carlos Manuel Portillo (30) of Paraguay. Portillo has a record of 28 f, 23 w, 5 l and 17 KOs.
However, Tito is a brutal puncher and lightning quick, with dynamite in both fists. He has that "killer instinct" that many boxers can only dream of.
Mercado says the showdown versus Nakathila will show that he is ready to make the leap against more bona fide competition. Tito says he wants to box for a few rounds just to show off his footwork and ingenuity before he goes into action.
Mercado told Boxingscene.com: “Nakathila not only has the experience, but he's fought the top guys and done well against them. He is the perfect fighter to showcase my skills against, and it will definitely advance my career.
“It will make me grow, and that's what we want – fights against guys who aren't just in it for the money. I want to prove that I am on the level of Shakur Stevenson and Raymond Muratalla. I want to be mentioned in the same breath as the top names. I deserve to be there.
“I'm the best prospect in this sport because of not only my skills but also the challenges I'm willing to take and the guys I've already beaten. No other boxer has the record or is willing to fight the guys I've already fought. I don't think it should even be considered who’s the best. I am the best, as I have already proven. Beating Nakathila will definitely make me the prospect of the year.
“I think I want to box a bit more against Nakathila and show people that I know how to move around the ring. I just want to show something a little different. Spectators have already seen my power, but I want to box a little more and then plant the knockout."
– [email protected]
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