Bernardo Mercado

Bernardo Mercado
Bernardo Mercado
Born	Bernardo Mercado; January 16, 1952; Montería, Colombia
Died	June 11, 2021 (aged 69); Cartagena
Nationality	Colombian
	Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
	Boxing record
Total fights	38
Wins	33
Wins by KO	28
Losses	5
Draws	0
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Colombia
Central American and Caribbean Games

Bernardo Mercado (January 16, 1952 – June 11, 2021) was a Colombian professional boxer briefly ranked as the top contender for the title of champion in 1980 by the WBC.

Born in Montería, Colombia,^[1]^[2] Mercado won a bronze medal in the light-heavyweight category at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games.^[3]

Mercado was once a sparring partner for Argentine heavyweight Oscar Bonavena, before turning professional on November 15, 1975.

Of his first 20 bouts, the 6-foot-4-inch (193 cm) power puncher won 17 by knockout, nine in the first round. Mercado's first loss as a pro came in 1978, at the hands of future champion "Big" John Tate.^[2]

He went on to fight other future champions Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick, knocking Berbick out in the first round of their meeting on April 3, 1979. In 1980, he earned a seventh round technical knockout over dangerous contender and multiple-time world title challenger Earnie Shavers and was ranked as the number one contender to Larry Holmes' WBC belt. He was defeated in an elimination bout with former champion Leon Spinks by 9 round technical knockout. He would go on to fight such name fighters as Randall "Tex" Cobb and Jimmy Thunder (with whom he fought in his last bout on December 8, 1989).^[1]

Professional boxing record edit

33 Wins (28 knockouts, 5 decisions), 5 Losses (4 knockouts, 1 decision)^[2]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	33–5	Jimmy Thunder	TKO	1	08/12/1989	Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Victoria	Referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the first round.
Win	33–4	Wesley Watson	TKO	1	13/08/1988	Bristol, Tennessee
Win	32–4	Wesley Smith	KO	4	02/08/1988	Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Win	31–4	Conroy Nelson	UD	8	28/05/1988	Saskatoon Place Complex, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Win	30–4	Jose Luis Gonzalez	KO	1	06/11/1986	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	29–4	Fernando Montes	TKO	8	04/09/1986	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the eighth round.
Win	28–4	Fernando Montes	TKO	5	07/05/1983	Cartagena de Indias
Loss	27–4	Randall "Tex" Cobb	PTS	10	06/11/1981	Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win	27–3	Gilberto Acuna	TKO	1	13/06/1981	Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Loss	26–3	Leon Spinks	TKO	9	02/10/1980	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	Referee stopped the bout at 2:52 of the ninth round.
Win	26–2	Tom Prater	TKO	12	14/08/1980	Bogotá	WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title.
Win	25–2	Earnie Shavers	TKO	7	08/03/1980	Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey	Referee stopped the bout at 0:41 of the seventh round.
Win	24–2	Henry Clark	PTS	10	03/08/1979	Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California
Win	23–2	Fili Moala	TKO	6	25/05/1979	San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California
Win	22–2	Trevor Berbick	KO	1	03/04/1979	Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia	WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title. Berbick knocked out at 2:55 of the first round.
Win	21–2	Tony Pulu	TKO	8	14/02/1979	Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah
Loss	20–2	Mike Weaver	TKO	5	22/10/1978	Sahara Reno, Reno, Nevada
Loss	20–1	John Tate	TKO	2	22/06/1978	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Referee stopped the bout at 2:24 of the second round.
Win	20–0	Horace Robinson	PTS	10	24/02/1978	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	19–0	Fili Moala	TKO	8	18/11/1977	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	18–0	Roger Russell	KO	1	29/09/1977	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Russell knocked out at 1:17 of the first round.
Win	17–0	Battling Bob Smith	KO	2	22/07/1977	Cartagena de Indias
Win	16–0	Horace Robinson	PTS	6	11/05/1977	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win	15–0	Randy Stephens	KO	2	29/04/1977	Fort Worth, Texas
Win	14–0	Dan Ronnell	KO	7	10/03/1977	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	13–0	Paul Solomon	KO	1	15/02/1977	Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Win	12–0	Johnny Pouha	KO	1	03/11/1976	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	11–0	Dan Ronnell	KO	6	22/10/1976	Los Angeles, California
Win	10–0	Earl McLeay	TKO	1	05/10/1976	Hyatt Regency, Incline Village, Nevada
Win	9–0	J.J. Woody	KO	3	28/09/1976	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Win	8–0	Battling Bob Smith	KO	1	22/09/1976	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	7–0	MacArthur Swindell	UD	8	19/08/1976	Washoe County Fairgrounds, Reno, Nevada
Win	6–0	Manuel Ramos	KO	5	13/05/1976	Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Win	5–0	Mark White	KO	1	26/02/1976	Reno, Nevada
Win	4–0	Dave Martinez	KO	3	12/02/1976	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	3–0	Marlyn Johnson	KO	1	08/01/1976	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	2–0	Kenny Charles	TKO	1	11/12/1975	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Referee stopped the bout at 0:23 of the first round.
Win	1–0	Harry Washington	KO	1	15/11/1975	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California	Washington knocked out at 2:34 of the first round.