Israel “Bad Ways” Mercado (11-1-2, 7 KOs), of Pomona, California, is set to return to action in an eight-round junior welterweight clash against seasoned Argentinean Jonathan Jose Eniz (35-21-1, 16 KOs). The bout takes place April 19th at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, and will be broadcast live worldwide on WBCboxing.com, as part of a show presented by Showtime Promotions. Mercado, who continues to sharpen his tools and climb the competitive 140-pound division, enters the ring fresh off a focused training camp and is ready for the challenge. “Eniz has been around and faced a lot of solid guys, so I’m not overlooking him,” said Mercado. “But I’ve had a strong camp. I’m locked in, and I plan on showing everyone the work I’ve been putting in.”

 

Despite a few minor bumps early in his pro journey, Mercado believes his story is far from finished—and he's hungry to make his mark. “I know I still have a lot left in this game,” continued Mercado. “I’m only getting better, I’m just going to keep fighting, keep winning, and keep climbing. It’s all about momentum, and I’m building mine back up.”

 

Fighting once again in front of the loyal SoCal boxing faithful, Mercado is fired up to perform close to home. “Southern California has always had my back,” Mercado concluded. “Fighting here motivates me in a different way. I want to put on a show for everyone who’s supported me since day one.”

 

Showtime Promotions executives Reyes Mejia and Lenin Garcia are excited to feature a determined talent like Mercado on their growing platform. “Israel Mercado is the kind of fighter who brings a lot of fans and excitement to every fight,” said Mejia. “He’s coming into his own, and fans are going to love what they see.”

 

“There’s something special about fighters from Pomona—there’s a fire in them,” added Garcia. “Mercado fits that mold. We’re proud to have him on this card and part of what we’re building at Showtime Promotions.”