- Bernardo Mercado
Bernardo Mercado was a
heavyweight boxer briefly ranked as the top contender for the title of champion in 1980 by the WBC.Born in
Montería ,Colombia onJuly 16 ,1953 , Mercado was once a sparring partner for Argentine heavyweightOscar Bonavena , before turning professional onNovember 15 ,1975 .Of his first 20 bouts, the 6'6 ft 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.He went on to fight other future champions
Mike Weaver andTrevor Berbick , knocking Berbick out in the first round of their meeting onApril 3 ,1979 . In 1980, he earned a seventh round technical knockout over dangerous contender and multiple-time world title challengerEarnie Shavers and was ranked as the number one contender toLarry Holmes ' WBC belt. He was defeated in an elimination bout with former championLeon Spinks by 9 round technical knockout. He would go on to fight such name fighters as Randall "Tex" Cobb andJimmy Thunder (with whom he fought in his last bout onDecember 8 ,1989 ). His professional ring record stands at 34 victories (29 by way of knockout) and 5 loses in 39 contests.References
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