🚨 Tito Mercado Wants ALL the Smoke at 140! 😤🥊 | The Last Stand

🥊 Undefeated knockout artist Ernesto “Tito” Mercado joins The Last Stand with Brian Custer for a powerful in-depth conversation about boxing, championship ambitions, and why he believes he’s ready to take over the stacked 140-pound division 🔥

One of boxing’s fastest-rising young contenders, Tito Mercado opens up about:
 👀 Calling out the top names at super lightweight
 💣 Why he believes he can BEAT the elite fighters in the division
 🏆 His incredible amateur pedigree
 🥊 The mentality behind his aggressive fighting style
 🔥 The pressure of being one of boxing’s most dangerous contenders
 😤 Why he fears NO ONE at 140

Mercado entered the professional ranks with one of the most decorated amateur backgrounds in recent memory:
 🏅 21x National Champion
 🥊 278-11 amateur record
 💥 18-0 as a professional with 17 knockouts

Known for his explosive power, sharp timing, offensive pressure and confidence, Tito Mercado has quickly become one of the most talked-about young fighters in boxing. Fans and analysts alike have taken notice of his devastating knockout ratio and willingness to challenge the best fighters in the sport.

During this exclusive interview, Mercado speaks candidly about:
 🔥 Potential mega fights
 👑 Future world title opportunities
 🥶 The current landscape of the 140 lb division
 🎯 Matchups with the division’s biggest stars
 👀 His thoughts on today’s pound-for-pound fighters
 💬 The criticism, expectations & hype surrounding his career

Tito also gives his honest takes on other fighters across boxing and explains why he believes his combination of skill, mentality and power separates him from the rest of the division 😤

🚨 This is an episode boxing fans DO NOT want to miss!

📅 PREMIERES MONDAY MAY 18, 2026
 ⏰ 9PM EASTERN

👇 WHO should Ernesto “Tito” Mercado fight next?!

#Boxing #TitoMercado #TheLastStand #BrianCuster #Boxeo #140Division #BoxingPodcast #KnockoutArtist #ChampionshipBoxing #PremierBoxing

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

You're watching the last stand with Brian Custer. Yes, it is the last stand. I'm Brian Custer. We bring you the biggest names in the sport. Hey, joining me today, I'm telling you, one of the rising stars at 140 pounds. This kid is unbeaten. In fact, he's 18 and oh. 17 of his victories have come by knockout. This kid's got dynamite in his hands, so much so that 13 of his victories haven't gone past the third round. He is a problem at 140 pounds. You know him as Ernesto Tito Mercado. Joining us and making his debut on the last stand. Tito, welcome to the last stand. I appreciate you having me. Okay, look, man. Last time we saw you in the ring, uh, December, I want to say Antonio Moran, right? And that was a destruction uh victory that you came. I know everybody is fiending. When are we gonna see Tito back in the ring?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Yeah, man. Look, uh, obviously, you know, just like just like everybody, right? I've been itching to get back in the ring. Um, but we're in talks for some time in June. Nothing official yet. Uh, kind of got an idea. Should be late June. So um, you know, once I get that settled up, I can't wait to announce that so everybody could uh tune in for fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

Now, uh also, you you're one of the hottest free agents out there, too, uh, during that time. Now, you were with Matroom for a little bit. Tell me why. What was it that you when it came down to it, you said, you know what, I I think it's time for me to look elsewhere.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Um, you know, just uh, you know, a couple things, but you know, um, you know, we both mutually, you know, decided to part ways, and um, you know, I wish them the best. And um, I'm just looking to you know keep moving forward in my career and and doing what I do best, uh, which is not dudes out.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

And uh when it comes to promotional companies, tell me what you look who are you looking at, and have you ultimately made a decision?

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Um, I mean, you know, thankfully in that department I had no uh no struggles, man. I've been my phone's been ringing like crazy. I had to put it on DD. Um and uh no man, it's been fun. It's been fun knowing that, you know, obviously what I've been doing is obviously sparking interest, and and everybody knows that I'm a threat and could be a you know a huge star. So to be able to get all the traction from all the biggest promoters right now that are making noise, um, it means definitely a lot, man, and and just shows that uh shows you know my potential and what I could do. So obviously if my phone wasn't ringing, that'd be a problem, right? But everybody knows that uh anybody that could go in the mic and talk and go with the knockdown, I think they know that they got something uh special right there.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

When it when it boils down to what was what's the deciding factor when you said this is the place I'm going to help guide my career, what what did it boil down to? What did you want out of that promotional company?

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Um, yeah, I still haven't made the decision yet, final, but um, you know, I think it's also me, man, somebody that just you know aligns with you know what we got going and obviously gonna make these uh big fights. You know, obviously I'm I'm calling out the biggest names. I just want to go there and you know see my name and the legacy, you know. So I think uh as long as something could align with everything, obviously everything gotta make sense financially, everything. So uh if all that makes sense, you know, that's where I'll be at. And uh, you know, once I land somewhere, you guys know that it makes sense for me.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

So so in February, I think uh everybody saw the video when you confronted um Frank Martin, the ghost, about fighting him. Have you had any more talks? And do you think that is a fight that we will see this year?

SPEAKER_00 3:30

Uh hopefully, man. Look, uh, I haven't got no talks, you know, from their team or none of that. Obviously, I know for good reason too, after now, here Albright put him in, you know, spaghetti legs. Um, I'm not in a year Albright, man. I'm telling you right now, I won't, first of all, for him to be letting a part-time nurse, you know, part-time, I like Albright, but a part-time senior, you know, to me, Albright's like a Chris Brown Jr. For him to be all there, you know, putting him wobbly legs like that, that's kind of embarrassing. For a fighter like me, you know, for people to be like, oh, you know, Frank Martin is gonna be a good fight for Tito, he's not gonna be no good fight for me. I'm gonna put him on the first three rounds. I'm telling you right now, Frank Martin's not on my level. I find that disrespectful that people even put him in the same category as me.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

If you had your your choice right now, Tito, if they said, you know what, we can make this fight right now. What's the fight that you've been fiending for?

SPEAKER_00 4:19

Oh, that's a good man, that's a good question. You know, obviously, um, I've been calling a lot of these guys out. I think one that probably makes sense right now, because he's not a world champion, I think Keyshawn Davis. You know, he's not a world champion. I think we both on the same, I think uh as far as you know positioning in the 140. I think we both in the same kind of spot. You know, obviously he's a world champion on 135, but once you come to 140, we're both in the top tens now. So I think that one would make sense. Um, mostly, man, any of those top guys, man. You got Duarte, you got a lot of these guys there, man, that you know, it's for the takings, man. They just gotta go with and sign the contract.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Yeah, well, tell me about uh Keyshan because it it is it's rare that people have called out Keyshawn. Um, what is it that you see that you said, man, this this is a perfect matchup for me?

SPEAKER_00 5:04

Man, look, uh, me and him just had you know beef since you know, kind of history since you know the Olympic trials, the whole little incident that I had with them in USA boxing. So I had a little vendetta with him since since then, you know. I like I said, I never we never fought in the uh Olympic trials. I was supposed to get my box off with him, never had that. So I kind of hold it personal to him. You know, I wanted to get my get back, and what better way to take his own in the professional rankings, right? He's a good fighter, man. But uh, we actually we didn't spar, but we shared the ring for a quick drill or two. He tried to get cute. I touched him with a shot. I saw his eyes get real big. So I know there's something there, man, once I touch him, so I just can't wait to go in and expose him. That little act that he's doing right now, man. That that ain't real. That ain't real. That knockout, poop. He's gonna see a knockout when he wakes up in the morning when I hit him.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Um another guy that you've you've you've certainly uh been uh boisterous about is Shakur Stevenson. Uh in a fight. Do you see that as a realistic fight for Tito Morcado?

SPEAKER_00 6:04

I do, and I don't. I think it just really depends. Um, I'm obviously trying to position myself to get a belt. Um, the reason I don't is I know he's chasing the big fights. Obviously, I know his name is at a much higher point than mine is right now, so I'm not sure if the risk will really meet the reward for him. But uh, like I said, man, I think if I capture a title or two, be some top guys, I think it definitely could be something that makes sense for you know for him. Uh but but ultimately, man, I think it'll be a great fight.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Uh you know, and that's that's an interesting thing because Shakur is one of those guys that A, people say is so skilled, B probably one of the best defensive fighters out there right now. Why would you want to fight someone like that in Shakur Stevens?

SPEAKER_00 6:46

Man, look, my thought, my whole thing is I'm in the game to be the best, right? Um, these guys cry that nobody calls them out. You know, Keyshawn, uh Shakur, the two step brothers right there that don't fight each other, right? They they over there claiming nobody calls them out, nobody wants to fight them. I'm calling them out. It's funny though, because when I call them out, people complain about it. Oh, why is he calling you guys want people to call people out, you guys want people to fight. That's what I'm here for. I think Shakur is a great fighter. Um, I just people like, oh, you gotta deal with this defensive boom, boom. He gotta deal with me. I could pop too and I could box. I fought styles like that many times in amateurs, and I had no problem with him. So I think uh, like I said, man, I just need the opportunity to go there and show it and take him out.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

You know, when you look at your division, and man, what a great division it is, but you've got champions there. You've got Gary Antoine, um, Russell, who is the who is a champion, Dalton Smith, champion, Shakur Stevenson, champion. Uh, do you believe that Tito McCrado, most dangerous fighter at 140, best fighter at 140?

SPEAKER_00 7:47

100%. 100%. I think, like I said, I just need a name or two to go with it and show people why I'm a threat like that. Um, I like I said, I just need the opportunity. And a lot of these guys, believe it or not, a lot of these top guys are you guys, you know, are your are y'all favorites and you, oh, these guys are they don't duck smoke, boom, boom. They're dodging me, man. There's a lot of times where I had opportunity to fight these guys and they declined my fight. You know, uh, one of the top guys that I know off my head, the most recent one's Barbosa. He ducked my fight. They called me to fight him. I said, let's do it. Never nothing back. Same thing like Frank Martin. They call me. I think all these guys think that I'm bluffing or something. And I when I really go with it and I tell them I'm accepting the fight, they just ghost. So uh, like I said, man, I just need the opportunity to go there and be one of these guys.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

Um, what is your ultimate goal, Tito? When when it comes, when it's all said and done in the ring, you want to be like, yo, I was, you know, two division champ, I was this. What's your ultimate goal?

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Man, obviously, like any fighter, right? I want to become a world champion, but I want people to when they say my name, man, I want them to shiver. I want to be, I want to be the boogeyman. And I think I've been doing that so far, knocking these guys out. That's why a lot of these guys don't want to fight me. Especially like you said, I'm knocking everybody on the first three rounds. Who wants to get embarrassed like that? Especially if you're a top guy. So I think uh when when people say my name, I want them to be scared. I want them to whisper when they say my name. I don't want them to say my name out loud. I think that's the whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

I like it. In any of these fights, you know, sometimes, and I'm not saying, trust me, I am not saying this is you, but sometimes when you have been knocking guys out, knocking guys out, you haven't had one of those fights where you've had to bite down on your gum shield and be like, yo, this is a war here. Uh is that something that you think that you still need to really prove your medal? And the only reason why I say that is like Bird Lion guy is a great example. He was knocking guys out, his like first 16 fights, all in the first round, all in the first, and then all of a sudden he started fighting some people at the next level, and it was a different story. So, do you think you need that that fight where you have to bite down on your gum shield, so to speak, and and really prove your mettle?

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Um, I wouldn't say that I really need it. Um, obviously, I would like to. That's why you know a lot of these guys I get frustrated when I even knock these guys out in the first couple rounds. That's why uh from my last fight with Moran, I had them hurt in the first round, like in the first what minute or two. I knocked them down by accident. A lot of these guys, I'm knocking them down by accident. I'm not trying to knock them out so early. I'm trying to get rounds in. So um I definitely want some rounds in, but I think uh ultimately, man, when you get blessed with power like that, you don't really have to worry about it so much because I know I could box and I know it's not there's nothing in my in my mind where like I know that I'm not at that level where I can't bite down. I know I could do all that. So just you know, having that power just makes it just a little easier. I don't really got to do too much. I just once I touch these guys, I don't have to worry about going to late rounds because my power carries throughout you know, round one to round 10. I'm not worried about that.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

And and talk to me about 140. How long do you see yourself in this division? And at what point do you go to 147?

SPEAKER_00 10:53

Uh just depends, man. I I think it depends on the mood I am. If I want to terrorize everybody, I'll stay at 140 for for a while. But uh, I definitely want to capture a title at 140 first before I do any, you know, talking about moving up. And after that, man, I want to go over there with the 147s. That's where all the players are looking like they're moving up to. So I definitely want to go over there and just uh, like I said, man, do some uh do some terrorist attacks over there in that sense. Don't quote me on that one, though.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Talk to me about who was the guy, who was your guy? You know, obviously, as a fighter, there was some people you may look up to and you're like, yo, I just love everything about him. So who was who was that guy for you when you got into the sweet science?

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Uh for sure. I think the two most guys that I studied all the time was Sigurae Leonard and uh Alexis Arwell. You know, Alexis Arwell's from my own country, Nicaragua, that's where my father's from. So, you know, guy that was super technical, could fight, humble. Obviously, you know, everybody knows about Sugar Ray Leonard, man. Fast hands, fast feet, um, could pop. So, I mean, they're just those two guys, man, were the guys that I was like, damn, I want to fight like them one day.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

Yeah, and you know what? Here's the one thing, too, uh, and I'm happy you said Ray, for the simple fact that, and I know Ray, well, is with you, and you know, we spent some time at the last fight that we had. You you remind me of Ray, dressed impeccably and has that million-dollar smile, good looking kid, and then when you get in the ring, it's like, oh my god, this is an animal here. But when you you're seeing him out of the ring, he's Hollywood, yeah, good looking smile, dressed to the suits to the nines, and then you're looking in the ring, you're like, Holy cow, who unleashed this animal. You remind me a lot of Ray. I I love that in you. Uh, give me give me some guys, man, because obviously there are sometimes you have sparring sessions and work where you're like, Hey, we those were pay-per-view matches I had. You know, Benavidez said a lot of that with uh Zerdo, and then you see what happened when they finally fought. What about for you and your young career? Have you had some work with this guy? And you're like, Look, we we've had some wars and sparring. I can't wait to see if we ever fight in uh for real here in the pros.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Uh well, I I'm I'm gonna give you one name of a guy that obviously I know I'll never fight because he's in a smaller weight class, but at the time he was walking around a little heavier and I was a little younger, so that was good work for me. I spared Chocolate when I was like 17, 18, and he believe it or not, he's a smaller guy, but he walks around kind of heavy, so I was still not in my man's strength. So it was a it was a good sparring. I sparred him twice, and that one I was like, this little dude is tough. That's and that's the one I had to bite down on my gum show. I was like, damn, because the guy's so technical, man. And and then I think it surprises a lot of people. Sometimes it's not even the bigger guys that are the guys that give you the most work. It's a little small guy, they're angry. The little small guys, man, they know how to put some work in. So uh I definitely had some good rounds with him. I spared him once in Nicarawa at the um at the gym over there, and then I sparred him over here in Coachella where he trains at. Um, but other than that, man, guys around my weight, uh, there ain't too many, man. You know, the most recent one will probably be Raymond War Tai. I spared him a while back. Uh, we did some good rounds. Um, I'm don't want to say too much. I just I'll just put it this way. We only did one sparring and uh I never got to call back to go another one, but uh that's that's really it on that one there.

SPEAKER_01 14:01

Uh I like it. I like it. Uh what about what about and the guy I love and he I know he's out there out with what about Bam Rodriguez? You talk about the little guys. You like Bam Rodriguez?

SPEAKER_00 14:09

I like Bam Rodriguez. I think he's man, I think he's uh I think he's one of the guys that's I think the the lower division was kind of dying out for a little bit, but you got him and you got Inway and Nakatana. I think they're they're the ones that kind of pushing the the the the lower weight classes, and uh man, you gotta love it.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Yeah, all right. Let's talk about some of the fights, man, that are uh on the horizon. Uh uh give me your thoughts on Jeron Boots Innis and Xander Zayas. What do you think about that fight and who you think wins it?

SPEAKER_00 14:36

I think uh such a hard fight, man, because obviously you gotta you gotta give respect to Xander no matter what, because he's still a unified champ, right? But I think that was just a horrible fight. I think it was too early to make that fight for them. Um, I do think that Boots still has more experience in his pedigree based on who he's fought. Um, I think you know, I I seen some uh I seen some interview, I think, of Tim Bradley saying, like, I think this is Zayas' last fight with Matt uh with top rank or something, so they're selling him out. Um, I could kind of see that. I think uh I think Boots wins the fight, and I think he might be able to stop Zayas, and that's my opinion. But but I think Zayas is a great fighter, man. I expect him to go there and put uh go out on the shield, at least for sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Nice. You you know what? We we all have that that fight that you're like, man, this this is the one I I can't wait for because I think it's gonna be pay-per-view, I think it's gonna be the one that sets me to start him. You know, obviously, uh Terrence had it when he finally got Canelo. Um, he had it obviously when he had Spence. What's that fight for you?

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Oh, that's a good one. Um, I don't know, man. There's like I said, there's so many good players. Um, like I said, there's so many guys I wanted to get in the ring with. Uh, obviously, you know, besides you know, Keishana Shakur, I definitely want to get in the ring with uh Tiofimo Lopez. I definitely want to get in there with Ryan Garcia. I want to make a fight out here in LA because we're both, you know, SoulCal boys. I think that would be great. Uh man, there's just so many fights, man. I think uh I don't know. I think it really depends what I'm looking for. You know, if I want to go there and, you know, really hit the how you say it, hit the social media and you know, be all over the place. I think I want to fight Ryan Garcia. I think me knocking him out would buzz me everywhere. If I want to go legacy-wise, I think me knocking down Shakura will be great. I think me taking him out of the mix will be great. So it's just so many fights, man. That that's what I love about the 140 to 147 now, or even 154, man. But 140, 147 specifically, there's so many big names and so many things that could happen. One one fight, one can change everything for me.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Uh, how often uh do you think we will see you in the ring this year? Obviously, you've you you fought last fall in December. Uh, you said maybe June. How often will you get another one in before the year's out?

SPEAKER_00 16:39

Oh, for sure, man. I'm planning to knock, you know, I'm planning to fight. I want to at least fight three. So I'm planning to knock the first two guys out in the first round and then we go for the next one. I'm gonna I'm gonna come out quick. I'm gonna come out quick. I think so we don't, I ain't worried about none of that. We're gonna go back right back into it. I'm gonna knock them out one, two rounds, and then go call it a rapper and get my next fight in. I got to, man. I'm I'm already behind on the year. I got to.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

I love it. I love this. Uh uh by this time next year, you're we're gonna be saying Tito Mercado is what?

SPEAKER_00 17:11

World champion for sure. I see I definitely see it. I'm ranked really high in the two sanctions bodies, so I don't I don't see why not. Um I know I'm only a couple fights away, and I think that could definitely is definitely uh makeable and possible.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Lastly, uh, as we wrap this up, you know, for the people watching this, and obviously the the boxing nuts already know who you are, love who you are, but for for the casual fan, give us a final word, what they need to know about Ernesto Tito Mercado.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

Man, I think when you say Ernesto Tito Mercado, I think, well, if you're talking about to the fighters, they don't want to mention me because they scared me, right? But if you're talking about to the fans, man, you're gonna see a guy that's explosive, like a punch, like a talk, good looking in the ring, don't get hit. Um, there's just so many things, man, I think that boxing needs. I'm a true entertainer when it comes to the sport. You know, when it comes down to my ring walks, I do some when it comes down to trash talking. And the most important thing is anything I say I talk, I always get it done. If I say I'm gonna knock a guy out in three or four, put your money on it because I'm gonna knock him out in three or four. Because I got that type of uh, how you say it, what with these new guys saying now, or I got this new aura, man, that I can go with and I can make anything happen that I want to and I put my mind to. So uh man, definitely stay tuned because I'm gonna do some big things. And notice I said big thing, I'm not planning on doing it, I'm gonna do it. And all these guys that I'm gonna say I'm gonna knock out, I'm gonna do it. So I just can't wait, man, until it's my time. And uh I'm gonna show everybody exactly who Tito Mercado is.

SPEAKER_01 18:35

I love it. I love it. And listen, we can't wait to see you back in the ring in June. Folks, that's what we do here on the last stand. We bring you the biggest names in the sport. And at 140, I'm telling you, you're looking at him right now, he already told you he's gonna be the next champion at 140 pounds, Tito Mercado. Thanks for watching, everybody. We'll see you again next week. That's right. I am Brian Custer. This is The Last Stand. And we want to remind you if you love this content, and we certainly thank you for watching, downloading, supporting the show. Make sure you go to YouTube, subscribe to The Last Stand, hit that like button, and don't forget to hit the notification as well so you don't miss any episodes that we have coming up. Share the show as well. And you can also hear the podcast as well. You can download it, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Podcast Attic, Deezer, or whatever platform you listen to your podcast, you can find The Last Stand. We certainly appreciate the support. Don't forget to download The Last Stand.