Ernesto Mercado delivers eye-opening knockout before calling out stars at 140 pounds

If Antonio Moran was the last test Ernesto Mercado had to pass before possibly contending for a title, Mercado aced it with style.

The undefeated super lightweight rising sensation dropped Moran three times en route to a riveting sixth-round knockout victory at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California, and live on DAZN , on Saturday night. It was an especially eye-opening performance from Mercado (18-0, 17 KOs) who hadn't fought since stopping Jose Pedraza in January.

"Me being out of the ring so long and making it look so easy, I think that shows a big statement," a victorious Mercado told DAZN's Chris Mannix inside the ring. "That shows I'm ready for all these guys."

That's when he called out two of those top guys in saying "Teofimo, Shakur, what's up baby?" Of course, he was referring to Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson who fight January 31, live on DAZN.

While Mercado will be watching that mega bout closely, he did not waste time Saturday night turning the Moran fight into his own personal showcase.

During the first round, Mercado unloaded a raucous right hook that stunned Moran, making the veteran stumble backwards and taste the canvas for a knockdown.

Landing potshots seemingly at will over the next few rounds, Mercado uncorked a slicing uppercut that dropped Moran in the sixth round. Sensing he had Moran hurt badly, Mercado unleashed a barrage of punches for the rousing sixth-round knockout moments later.

Putting the exclamation point on his 2025 just made the New Year extremely intriguing for the 24-year-old.