Carlos Utría stays unbeaten after split-decision win in Las Vegas

Carlos Utría preserved his unbeaten professional record with a split-decision victory over American Israel Mercado in a competitive ten-round fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The win took the Colombian to 15 victories without a defeat and delivered a successful debut in the United States.

Mercado tested Utría from the opening round with sustained pressure and an unorthodox approach. The style made it difficult for the Colombian to settle into a comfortable rhythm, forcing him to alter his tactics as the contest developed.

Utría managed the tempo more effectively as the fight progressed and produced the heavier moments when exchanges mattered most. That work was enough to secure the judges’ verdict, although the split decision reflected the closeness of the bout.

The result adds another significant step to the career of the fighter from Soplaviento, Bolívar. Utría entered the Las Vegas contest as the WBC Boxing Grand Prix Super Lightweight Champion, a status he earned in Riyadh by defeating Uzbekistan’s Mujibillo Tursunov by unanimous decision in the tournament final.

Winning that title placed Utría among the leading figures to emerge from one of boxing’s newer international competitions and created opportunities for larger assignments in the super lightweight division. His victory over Mercado now gives him a notable result on his first appearance in the US market.

At 15-0, Utría remains undefeated while continuing the progress that has marked his professional career. The Mercado win strengthens his claim as one of Latin America’s promising young boxers and keeps his path open to major challenges at the highest levels of the division.