Ernesto Mercado fight canceled as Tagoe misses weight by 10lbs

The scheduled fight between Ernesto Mercado and Emmanuel Tagoe has been canceled. Tagoe arrived at the weigh-in 10 pounds over the contracted 140-pound limit for the event in Atlanta.

Negotiations were held between both sides to find a way to proceed with the match, but these discussions were unsuccessful. The bout was originally part of the Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott card on DAZN.

This cancellation is a setback for Mercado, who recently signed with Wynn Records and Salita Promotions. The 24-year-old fighter has been seeking a more active schedule after fighting only four times in the last two years.

Mercado, who holds a record of 17-0 with 16 knockouts, had intended to use this fight as a stepping stone toward higher-level opposition. During the week, he expressed interest in facing Shakur Stevenson, Frank Martin, and Emiliano Vargas.

Tagoe was meant to provide Mercado with another professional outing before the latter pursues those larger names. Because Tagoe missed the weight limit by a significant margin, the fight could not move forward.

Accepting a fight where the opponent is 10 pounds heavier would have required Mercado to take on substantial risk. The cancellation leaves Mercado without a scheduled date as he begins his tenure with his new promotional team.