Mercado bout cancelled after two opponents miss weight in Atlanta

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado’s scheduled fight in Atlanta was cancelled after two opponents failed to meet their weight requirements within about 24 hours. Emmanuel Tagoe was 10 pounds above the contracted 140-pound limit, while late replacement Roger Hilley weighed 155 pounds against a fight-day ceiling of 146.6 pounds.

Mercado had been due to face former world title challenger Tagoe on the Claressa Shields-Kaye Scott card at State Farm Arena. Tagoe’s weight miss at Friday’s weigh-in ended that matchup, leaving Mercado’s team to consider whether he could remain on the event with a new opponent.

Hilley accepted the bout at short notice, and Mercado agreed to a revised ten-round contest. The replacement plan also collapsed after Hilley arrived at 155 pounds in Atlanta. Under Georgia’s fight-day rules, he needed to be at 146.6 pounds or below, putting him 8.4 pounds over the permitted mark.

The unbeaten super lightweight therefore did not get into the ring despite preparing for Tagoe, accepting a substitute and agreeing to altered conditions. The two failed weigh-ins meant Mercado left the card without an opportunity to extend his perfect record.

Promoter Rick Mirigian said Mercado needed stronger safeguards in future negotiations. He called for a backup opponent to be secured on the same card and for a financial guarantee to protect the fighter when a bout falls apart. Mirigian also said he hoped Mercado would return quickly, with bigger fights possible after several more bouts.

There was still a successful result for Mercado’s family in Atlanta. Tito worked in the corner for his brother Daniel, who faced Rahmel McKinley on the card’s Zeus Network portion. Daniel scored two knockdowns in the first round before stopping McKinley at 1:48.