Undefeated junior welterweight prospect Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, (12-0, 11 KOs), of Pomona, CA returns to battle on Saturday, November 11 against former world title challenger Jeremia Nakathila, (23-3-0, 19 KOs) of Windhoek, Namibia in the ten-round main event at the Lumcolor – Phoenix Center in Ontario, CA.
“These are the types of fights I want,” said the 21-year-old promotional free agent Mercado. “Nakathila has fought numerous world class fighters and is the perfect challenge for me.”
“Ontario has become my second home and I love the huge amount of support I get from the fans. I’ve already started training and can’t wait to show that I’m ready right now to face any top 140lb. fighter in the world.”
Mercado is coming off a show-stopping first round knockout of veteran Carlos Manuel Portillo on August 26, 2023. He also holds impressive stoppage victories over former world title challengers Hank Lundy and Jayson Velez.
Nakathila knocked out former world champion Miguel Berchelt in the sixth round on March 22, 2022. He also has engaged in hotly contested battles against current Pound-for-Pound fighter Shakur Stevenson, Zoltan Kovacs and Raymond Muratalla.
IN OTHER NEWS: For the second time in four months, Joey Dawejko won a unanimous decision over Colby Madison in a heavyweight bout a Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.
The eight-round win garnered Dawejko the WBC U.S. Heavyweight title and headlined an eight-bout card that was promoted by King’s Promotions.
Dawejko dominated the action by landing quick power shots that kept Madison at bay. Dawejko’s shots had Madison thinking twice about trying to attack. in round eight, Dawejko scored two knockdowns to sew up the victory.
Dawejko of Philadelphia won by scores of 80-70, 79-71 and 78-72 and is now 26-10-4. Madison of Baltimore is 11-6-2.
The fight was a rematch of a May 2nd fight for which Dawejko also won a unanimous decision at the same venue.
Quadir Albright dropped Demarcus Layton twice en-route to an 82 second stoppage in a six-round welterweight bout.
Albright of Philadelphia is 9-1 with nine knockouts. Layton of Little Rock, Arkansas is 9-6-1.