Instead, Mercado announced Tuesday that he has signed with DMG Boxing and will return to the ring on June 19 in his hometown of Pomona, California.
Mercado (18-0, 17 KOs) revealed the deal on social media, while also confirming he will headline a card at The Fox Theater against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. The event will also feature the professional debut of his brother, Daniel Mercado.
The signing comes after months of uncertainty over the 24-year-old contender’s future. Mercado parted ways with Matchroom earlier this year after a short run that produced just two fights despite high expectations when he joined the company in September 2024.
His last appearance came in December when he stopped Antonio Moran in six rounds. Prior to that, in January 2025, he achieved a fourth-round stoppage of former world champion Jose Pedraza. A hand injury and a canceled fight caused by an overweight opponent also slowed his activity during his time at Matchroom.
Mercado remained visible as he explored his options. He attended events promoted by various companies and publicly called for fights against high-profile names such as Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis, leading to speculation that a larger promotional outfit might be pursuing him.
Whether those discussions ever developed into serious offers remains unclear.
DMG Boxing CEO David Michery welcomed Mercado to the company this week.
“DMG Boxing is proud to welcome Tito Mercado to the team,” said Michery Instagram. “With his sights set on greatness, Tito continues his climb to the top, and we’re excited to begin this next chapter with one of boxing’s rising stars.”
The move gives DMG one of the more dangerous young contenders in the 140-pound division. It also gives Mercado a platform to stay active as he continues to push for the bigger fights he’s been asking for over the past year.
The signing may not have been the destination many expected, but Mercado’s next chapter is now in place.
