Bryan Mercado is developing into a serious threat for anyone at 122 pounds.
Mercado notched another knockout win Friday night, knocking out Brandon Gamez in the fifth round at the Domo de la Feria in Fresnillo, Mexico.
The 27-year-old, who resides in Mexico City, improves to 25-1-1, 20 knockouts.
From the opening bell, Mercado landed the more-accurate punches and combinations. Gamez was the aggressor, but Mercado connected with one-two combinations to the head.
Mercado scored a knockdown in round three after landing a right hand that dropped Gamez to the canvas. Gamez beat the count and was game, but continued to receive punishment from the more-effective Mercado.
During the fourth round, Mercado continued connecting left-right combinations to the head of the Gamez. Towards the end of the round, another right hand to the head dropped Gamez to the canvas. Gamez was able to beat the count and make it back to his corner after the bell sounded to end the round.
Mercado ended matters the following round. During an exchange, Mercado landed a vicious right uppercut that dropped Gamez to the canvas. The fight was immediately stopped, saving Gamez from further punishment.
The win over Gamez was Mercado’s fifth consecutive knockout victory. Mercado has stopped six of his last seven opponents. He has not lost since a split-decision loss in his second pro fight in September 2015.
Gamez, who resides in Los Mochis, Mexico, drops to 12-2, 10 KOs. He has now lost back-to-back fights, both by knockout.
In the co-feature, Yuliahn Luna of Gomez Palacio, Mexico made the third successful defense of her WBC world Female bantamweight title, defeating Argentina’s Vanesa Taborda (11-15-3, 1 KO) by unanimous decision.
Scores were 100-89, 100-89, and 99-90 for Luna, who improves to 25-3-1, 4 KOs.
Luna dropped Taborda in the second round, courtesy of a left hook to the head. Taborda was game, but Luna displayed her pedigree, mixing her attack throughout the fight by countering Taborda or taking the initiative and outboxing Taborda.
In junior lightweight action, Rodolfo Bustamante of Culiacan, Mexico improved to 19-1-1, 12 KOs, dropping Guadalajara’s Miguel Angel Gonzalez three times en route to a fifth round knockout victory.
Bustamante dropped Gonzalez twice in the fourth round and once in the fifth round, all from left hooks to the body.
The card streamed live on ESPN Knockout throughout Latin America.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing