From California to Victory: Mercado Pizarro’s Hometown Return

In the heart of Philadelphia on Friday night, the crowd at the historic 2300 Arena came alive for the return of hometown favorite Branden Pizarro. Expectations were high, the atmosphere was electric, and fans were anticipating a triumphant performance. But what they got instead was a stunning upset delivered by a gritty, determined Israel Mercado.

The 30-year-old fighter from Montclair, California, didn’t just travel across the country to collect a paycheck—he came to win. And win he did, spoiling Pizarro’s homecoming with a majority decision victory that left the crowd stunned and the judges split but convinced. After ten hard-fought rounds, Mercado emerged with scorecards of 97-93 and 96-94 in his favor, while the third judge saw it even at 95-95.

A Fight with Grit, Not Glamour

From the opening bell, both fighters showed respect but wasted no time in establishing their strategies. The first two rounds were closely contested, with neither fighter clearly dominating. Pizarro, known for his technical skills and crisp jab, tried to keep the action at mid-range. Meanwhile, Mercado made it clear that he wanted to make things rough.

By the third round, Mercado’s plan came into focus: smother Pizarro, back him into the ropes, and take away his comfort zone. He pressed forward relentlessly, using his physicality to trap Pizarro and throw in bunches. Pizarro, to his credit, continued landing clean shots at a distance, but the space he wanted kept vanishing under Mercado’s constant pressure.

Turning the Tide in the Middle Rounds

The fourth round saw Mercado impose his will with more eye-catching combinations. He didn’t always land clean, but the judges and fans couldn’t ignore his aggression and activity. Pizarro, looking to get back in rhythm, put in a better performance in the fifth, peppering Mercado with shots while staying more active.

However, by the sixth, signs of fatigue were creeping in. Pizarro’s hands began to drop, and Mercado took full advantage. With each passing round, the Californian continued to push his opponent back, dominating the ring real estate and forcing Pizarro to fight off the ropes far more than he’d planned. Mercado’s grit and motor were taking over.

In Round 8, the story remained the same—Mercado marched forward, cut off the ring, and made Pizarro fight his fight. While Pizarro’s accuracy kept things competitive, it was Mercado’s volume and control of the tempo that began tipping the scales. By the final rounds, Pizarro was still landing, but he was doing so while under duress, unable to regain command of the bout.

The Numbers Tell a Story

According to punch stats, Mercado landed 138 punches compared to Pizarro’s 135. On the surface, those numbers suggest a close fight. But dig deeper, and the disparity becomes clearer—Mercado threw a whopping 578 punches compared to Pizarro’s 484. That nearly 100-punch difference showcased Mercado’s work rate and may have ultimately swayed the judges.

It wasn’t just about how many landed—it was about who dictated the action, and that was Mercado from the fourth round onward.

With the win, Mercado improved his record to 13-1-2 with 7 knockouts. It marked his third fight of 2025 and easily the most meaningful victory of his career. For Pizarro, who drops to 20-2-1 (11 KOs), it was a harsh return home and his first defeat since 2017—a seven-year unbeaten run snapped in front of a supportive but stunned Philadelphia crowd.

Scoby Scores Spectacular TKO, Calls Out Marquez

While Mercado vs. Pizarro headlined the night, junior welterweight Kurt Scoby made waves with an emphatic win of his own. Scoby, 30, hailing from Duarte, California, scored a sixth-round technical knockout over veteran Haskell Rhodes of Oklahoma City. The stoppage came when Rhodes failed to answer the bell for Round 7, having endured a punishing sixth round.

Scoby dropped Rhodes in the third with a well-timed right hand. The bout was intense early, with the fighters exchanging not just punches but words. But the talking stopped once Scoby’s fists started doing the damage.

In Round 6, Scoby unleashed a barrage of punches that overwhelmed the 37-year-old Rhodes, sending him crashing to the canvas again. Clearly hurt, Rhodes remained on his stool when the bell rang for the seventh. The official stoppage time was 3 minutes even.

Now riding a three-fight knockout streak since his lone loss to Dakota Linger, Scoby improved to 17-1 with 15 KOs. Rhodes fell to 31-8-1 (16 KOs), having now lost back-to-back fights.

After the bout, Scoby made his intentions known loud and clear.

“You know what I want,” he told the crowd. “First, give me my KO bonus. After that, you know who I want—Raul Marquez.”

Of course, he meant Raul’s undefeated son, Giovanni Marquez, setting up a potential showdown that fans would love to see.

Philly’s Smalls Shines with Knockout Over Booth

Philadelphia’s own Tahmir Smalls didn’t disappoint the home crowd. The undefeated welterweight delivered a crushing second-round knockout over Clarence Booth of Saint Petersburg, Florida. The scheduled eight-rounder ended at just 1:26 into Round 2.

Smalls hurt Booth at the end of the opening round and came out blazing in the second. A perfectly timed overhand right landed flush, sending Booth to the canvas. The 37-year-old veteran couldn’t beat the count, handing Smalls yet another early finish.

Smalls, 26, now stands at 15-0 with 11 knockouts. Booth, meanwhile, dropped to 21-12 and has now lost eight straight, dating back to 2022. Lending extra hype to the fight, reigning IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis appeared in Smalls’ corner for support—a symbolic passing of the Philly torch, perhaps.

Haywood Makes Quick Work in 44 Seconds

Another young Philadelphia prospect, Tyreem Haywood, put on a devastating display in front of his hometown fans. The 19-year-old welterweight obliterated Frank Brown of San Antonio in just 44 seconds of the first round. A single left hook to the body crumpled Brown, ending the contest before it ever truly began.

With the win, Haywood moved to 6-0—all six victories by knockout. Brown fell to 3-13-2 and was completely outclassed. Haywood’s explosive start to his professional career has many boxing insiders keeping a close eye on his development.

Colon Impresses in Opening Bout

The action started with fireworks as featherweight Keith Colon, a promising talent from Newark, New Jersey, delivered a brutal second-round stoppage of Robin Ellis from Las Vegas. The 22-year-old Colon, who boasts an impressive amateur pedigree, made quick work of the 29-year-old Ellis.

A left hook in the first round sent Ellis down, and Colon never let up. A second knockdown came moments later, this time ending with a crisp left uppercut. Early in Round 2, Colon dropped Ellis again with a right hand, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 1:40 of the round.

Colon advanced to 6-0, all by knockout, while Ellis slipped to 6-12 (5 KOs). It was another statement performance from a fighter looking to break into the national spotlight.

Source: Israel Mercado spoils return of local Branden Pizarro in Philadelphia

Conclusion: A Night of Rising Stars and Crushed Comebacks

Friday night at the 2300 Arena was a showcase of hungry fighters, shocking outcomes, and rising stars. While Branden Pizarro’s homecoming didn’t go as planned, Israel Mercado reminded everyone why boxing is the sport of surprises—where desire and pressure can upend talent and hometown support.

From Scoby’s challenge to the Marquez legacy, to Philly’s young knockout artists making statements, the night was full of moments that reminded fans why boxing continues to captivate.

Mercado may have walked in as an outsider, but he left the ring as the man of the moment—proof that underdogs can bite, and sometimes, they bite the hardest in enemy territory.
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