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 agreement on social media while also confirming he will headline a card at The Fox Theater against an opponent yet to be announced. The event will also feature the professional debut of his brother, Daniel Mercado.
The signing comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the 24-year-old contender’s future. Mercado parted ways with Matchroom earlier this year after a brief run that produced only two fights despite considerable expectations when he joined the company in September 2024.
His last appearance came in December when he stopped Antonio Moran in six rounds. Before that, he scored a fourth-round stoppage of former world champion Jose Pedraza in January 2025. A hand injury and a canceled fight caused by an overweight opponent also slowed his activity during his time with Matchroom.
Mercado remained visible while exploring his options. He attended events promoted by several 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 could pursue 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,” Michery said on Instagram. “With his sights set on greatness, Tito continues his climb toward 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 provides Mercado with a platform to stay active as he continues pushing toward the bigger fights he has been calling for over the past year.
The signing may not have been the destination many expected, but Mercado’s next chapter is now in place.
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