Ernesto Mercado targets the winner of Teofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson

STOCKTON, California  – Ernesto “Tito” Mercado is willing to fight whoever it takes to earn a shot at the winner of the biggest fight in his division.

The unbeaten junior welterweight knocked out veteran Antonio Moran in the sixth round on Saturday night in Stockton, California, to record his seventh straight knockout win. 

After the victory Mercado, 18-0 (17 KOs), called for the winner of the fight between lineal and WBO 140lbs champion Teofimo Lopez and unbeaten three-division titlist Shakur Stevenson, who moves up for their January 31 showdown in New York City. He knows he still needs to score at least one more victory to earn that right, however.

“Realistically, I want anyone in the top 10,” Mercado told BoxingScene. “You got Keyshawn Davis, Frank Martin, Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. If I have to get through those guys to get to Teofimo Lopez or Shakur Stevenson, I am willing to do that to make it happen.”

Despite signing with Matchroom Boxing, after spending the majority of his development fighting independently, he only fought twice. Once in January, and now once in December. 

“I feel like with the two fights I had, I made a lot of noise,” Mercado, 24, said. “I turned a lot of heads, and in the 140lbs division, I am definitely dangerous.”

Mercado believes that observers might overlook some of his traits and view him as mostly a power puncher. Their mistake, he says.

“I have a lot of explosiveness and speed,” Mercado said. “I generate power in a whole different type of way. I think a lot of fighters realize that once they get by the first two or three shots from me.”

Mercado of Pomona, California, knocked out Moran, 31-8-1 (21 KOs), a round earlier than both Andy Cruz and Devin Haney had managed. He believes he could have got the job done even earlier but was keen to bank some rounds.

“The guy fought a lot differently than we thought he would,” Mercado said. “I am assuming it is because of the first right hand I landed in the first round that I knocked him down with.

“I know what I can do. Once I get there with a top fighter, you are going to see a different side of me.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.