Frank Martin Agrees to Fight Unbeaten Ernesto Mercado After Weigh-In

Martin makes bold commitment before facing Nahir Albright

The moment came immediately after Frank Martin stepped off the scale at 140.5 pounds ahead of his scheduled 10-round fight against Nahir Albright. As the fighters moved through the final faceoffs, Martin and Mercado came together face-to-face, drawing attention from fans gathered around the stage.

When the discussion turned to whether he would fight Mercado, Martin left little room for ambiguity.

“I will accept the fight with you,” Martin said. “I handle business, and then we can make it happen. 100%. You hear me? 100% we can make it happen.”

He repeated the commitment seconds later, reinforcing that his position was firm.

“I accept the fight in a heartbeat right after this fight. We could do it.”

The exchange broke out while Martin was still in fight mode for Saturday’s bout with Albright, with his mind on the task ahead and the long game at the same time. Albright had already made weight and handled his business on the scales, but the focus turned toward the confrontation a few feet away.

Mercado, 24, is unbeaten with 17 knockouts in 18 fights. He fights with pressure, throws in combinations, and looks to finish once he has a man hurt. Inside the junior welterweight ranks he is viewed as a young puncher coming through, even if casual fans have not fully caught up to him yet.

Martin, now 31, has been rebuilding since his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in June 2024. He returned in December with a stoppage win over veteran Rances Barthelemy.

By taking the fight on the spot, Martin folded that exchange into the story of his comeback weekend.
Whether it moves forward depends on how he handles his business on Saturday. The agreement was voiced clearly, in front of cameras and fighters who heard it. In boxing terms, once you say it publicly, you own it.