ATLANTIC CITY — Lower Cape May Regional High School alumnus Josh Mercado scored a TKO (technical knock out) Sept. 19 against Joel Nieves, of Allentown, Pa. That knockout came in the third round of a scheduled four-round bout.
Despite being a rookie in the pro fight game, the 24-year-old Mercado was a 2007 National Collegiate Champion at Lock Haven University with over 60 amateur matches. His experience was obvious in the lopsided win over Nieves who was fighting in his pro debut and had little or no amateur boxing experience.
Mercado easily won the first two rounds knocking down Nieves in the first with a hard left hook that nearly ended the bout even earlier. Clearly outmatched, Nieves spent most of the rest of the fight trying to keep Mercado at bay — unsuccessfully.
About two and a half minutes into the third round, Mercado backed Nieves into a corner and pummeled him with combinations. When Nieves was unable to fight back, the referee stopped the fight.
“Josh was great tonight,” said the boxer’s trainer Conn McMullan minutes after the fight. “He was really smart out there taking what Nieves gave him.”
McMullan said Josh showed great patience by not trying to go for the knockout sooner.
“After the first round knock down, he could have gone after him in the second, but I asked him to be patient and he was,” McMullan said. “As a trainer, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Mercado dedicated his victory to Jesse Bowman, a friend who recently injured himself in a surfing accident.
Mercado put on a great show for those in attendance on a special night of boxing. His was one of several great fights on a special tribute card to recently deceased boxer Arturo Gatti. Between matches, there were films of Gatti’s many thrilling fights in Atlantic City.
In the main event, Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, and Lante Addy, of Ghana, fought to an exciting draw. In another featured bout, undefeated Victor “The Viper” Valenzuela, of Passaic, won a decision in a close fought match against another undefeated boxer, Anthony Flores, of Philadelphia.
Mercado’s was the fourth bout on the seven-bout card.
“Mercado…Mercado…Mercado…Mercado,” chanted the boxer’s fans that numbered about 100 in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City.
He also had a large turnout for his August pro debut in which he won a unanimous decision over Philadelphia’s Terrell Boggs.
With many local loyal fans, Mercado is becoming popular with area boxing promoters. He’s already been scheduled for another four-round match on a Nov. 7 card against an opponent to be named later.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
Follow Hart at www.Twitter.com/HeraldJoe
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