KNOCKOUT ARTIST AND RISING STAR ERNESTO “TITO” MERCADO SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH SALITA PROMOTIONS AND WYNN RECORDS

Mercado to Face Emmanuel Tagoe in Co-Main Event on Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott Blockbuster Card

Saturday, Aug. 15 Live on DAZN from State Farm Arena in Atlanta

ATLANTA – Knockout artist and rising star Ernesto “Tito” Mercado has signed a long-term partnership with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records.  The 140-pound contender will face Emmanuel Tagoe in the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott blockbuster card on Saturday, Aug. 15 live on DAZN (9 p.m. ET) from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Mercado (19-0, 18 KOs) has knocked out eight straight opponents, including his last three against former champions or world title challengers.  The 24-year-old last went the distance in 2023 in his only fight outside of North America.

Mercado will compete in the stacked 140-pound division, where he has his sights set on the division’s top stars, including Shakur Stevenson, Richardson Hitchins, Keyshawn Davis, Dalton Smith and Emiliano Vargas.  The 5-foot-10 native of Pompano, Calif., is currently ranked No. 4 by the WBO and No. 5 by the IBF.

Mercado has gone past the sixth round just twice as his level of opposition has steadily increased since turning professional in 2021.  As an amateur, he fought against top international competition and compiled a 278-11 record while capturing 21 national championships.  Mercado was introduced to boxing by his father and longtime trainer, Ernesto Sr.

“Dmitriy Salita and Ruben Branson saw the same thing my team has always seen in me—a future world champion,” Mercado said.  “What made this the right fit was that it felt like family.  That’s important to me because boxing has always been a family business.  My father has been my trainer since I was five years old, and I wanted to be with a team that believes in me, keeps me active and shares the same vision for where my career is headed.”

Mercado will look to stay busy after signing with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, fighting less than two months after his June knockout victory over Juan Carlos Burgos.

“There were other opportunities, but this one felt different,” Mercado said.  “Salita stays active, puts on quality shows and keeps his fighters busy. I’m an active fighter, and I want to fight the best as often as possible.  I believe this partnership puts me in the best position to become a world champion.”

nother added benefit is the platform that Claressa’s events provide, with Shields a consistent attraction on DAZN and one of the top box office performers in the sport.

“It’s a huge opportunity to fight on Claressa’s event on DAZN,” Mercado said. “Claressa brings excitement, she brings fans, and she always puts on a big event.  I’m looking forward to being part of that and doing my job in the co-main event.  I want to set the tone early and give the fans something to remember.”

With his top-five rankings in the IBF and WBO, Mercado not only looks to stay active but challenge for a world title in the immediate future.  

“The goal is simple – become a world champion,” Mercado said.  “That’s what we’ve been working toward my entire life.  Every fight is another step closer, and I want to put myself in a position where the biggest fights can’t be avoided.”

In Tagoe (34-2, 16 KOs), Mercado will face a veteran opponent who has only suffered two defeats – a 2022 decision to boxing superstar Ryan Garcia and his professional debut in his native Ghana.

“There wasn’t a lot of time to find an opponent, but I think they picked the right guy,” Mercado said.  “He went the distance with Ryan Garcia, so this is an opportunity for me to make a statement. I want to go in there, get him out of there and continue climbing the rankings.”

Dmitriy Salita, of Salita Promotions, and Ruben Branson, of Wynn Records, have watched Mercado’s career from a distance and pounced at the opportunity to sign boxing’s most prized free agent.  Together, they look to advance Mercado to a world championship and bridge the gap to develop Mercado into a star outside the ring.

“We’re excited to welcome Tito Mercado to Salita Promotions alongside our partners at Wynn Records,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions.  “Tito is one of the most exciting young fighters in boxing today.  His knockout power, discipline, and relentless style make him a must-watch every time he steps into the ring.  We believe he has the talent and work ethic to become one of the biggest stars in the sport, and we’re proud to be part of what we believe can be a historic journey.”

“From the first conversations, it was clear Tito Mercado embodies everything we’re building at Wynn Records—discipline, confidence, fearlessness and an unwavering commitment to greatness,” said Ruben Branson, CEO of Wynn Records.  “Tito has already shown he belongs among the very best in the sport.  Together with Dmitriy Salita, our vision is to build more than champions—we’re building global brands and creating opportunities that elevate fighters to the biggest stages.  Tito is a tremendous addition to our family, and we’re excited to help him take the next step toward becoming a world champion while continuing to grow the future of our organization.”

Presented by Salita Promotions in partnership with Wynn Records, Claressa Shields Promotions and Route 30 Promotions, and presenting sponsor Zeus Network, the historic event marks the first women’s headliner at State Farm Arena.  Remaining tickets for Aug. 15 are available on Ticketmaster.com.

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS: 

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action. 

ABOUT DAZN:

DAZN, the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA), is creating the world’s biggest sports entertainment platform. A leading sports streaming service in Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the US and UK, its wide range of content covers top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions. DAZN’s football rights include Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, making DAZN the largest broadcaster of football in Europe. DAZN is global home of women’s football, broadcasting the UEFA Women’s Champions League alongside top-tier domestic league and cup competitions.  

DAZN’s portfolio features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP, and the best in boxing and MMA. As the global home of NFL Game Pass, it is the only place for fans outside of the USA to watch every NFL match live.

DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment service, where fans from across the globe can watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.    

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com. 

ABOUT WYNN RECORDS: 

Wynn Records is a full-service talent and music agency specializing in artist development, management, brand partnerships, distribution, marketing, and touring. With strong expertise in music administration, digital strategy, licensing, and industry trends, Wynn provides tailored career guidance to help clients grow and succeed. Rooted in innovation and long-term vision, the company empowers artists, creatives, and athletes to maximize their visibility, revenue, and impact. 

ABOUT ROUTE 30 PROMOTIONS 

Route 30 Promotions is a premier Atlanta-based sports and entertainment company specializing in professional and amateur boxing events. Known for partnering with major industry powerhouses, Route 30 Promotions consistently brings championship-caliber events and marquee title fights to the Southeast.

ABOUT ZEUS NETWORK

Founded by Lemuel Plummer (also serves as CEO), The Zeus Network, is the first subscription-on-demand streaming service created by millennials for millennials. Launched in July 2018, the network features exclusive, original scripted, unscripted comedy and drama series and other premium content. Zeus is available to subscribers for $5.99 monthly on mobile phones and desktop computers at TheZeusNetwork.com. The Zeus mobile and connected TV apps are available on the Apple App store, Google Play Store, and Amazon App Store, providing access to anywhere, anytime, any device. Follow Zeus on Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT STATE FARM ARENA:

Home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, the award-winning State Farm Arena is a next-generation sports and live entertainment venue focused on experience, sustainability, and service. Inspired by the city, State Farm Arena showcases the core values of the organization: inclusiveness, authenticity, and innovation. From the first ever in-arena barbershop with the Killer Mike SWAG Shop to the Hawk Bar on the court behind the basket to the concourse to the Topgolf Swing Suites, State Farm Arena is True to Atlanta. Community and sustainability are at the core as the arena hosts the largest annual food distribution event with the Million Meal Pack and the arena was also the first venue in the world to earn TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification for zero waste. State Farm Arena was recently named Best Venue by Front Office Sports, a leading multi-platform media and news organization, and consistently ranks among the top 10 concert and event venues in the world from industry-leading publications Pollstar and Billboard. Accessible to every fan with a MARTA station adjacent, the downtown Atlanta arena hosts approximately 175 events and close to 2 million guests annually and stakes its claim as the city’s best sports and live entertainment venue. For more information on State Farm Arena, visit StateFarmArena.com or follow on X @StateFarmArena and Instagram @StateFarmArena