Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Matchroom Boxing is headed to Stockton, California, on December 13 for a show headlined by Diego Pacheco against Kevin Lele Sadjo.

One of the upstarts set to provide support for the show is junior welterweight knockout artist Ernesto Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs).

“We want to build him to a title shot at 140,” Hearn said on DAZN. “He's been terrorizing everyone at 140 pounds. He's backing it up in the ring. He's got the power and the skills.

"He's the future of the sport. He's going to be around for a long time with a massive future ahead.”

Matchroom signed Mercado in August of last year, and the 23-year-old from Pomona, California, made his promotional debut in January by stopping former titleholder Jose Pedraza in just four rounds.

Mercado, now ranked in the top 15 by the WBO and IBF, had a return date scheduled for June but suffered an injury right before fight week that derailed his plans.

“I am itching to put somebody on their back,” Mercado said.

High atop the shortlist to face Mercado is Antonio Moran (31-7-1, 21 KOs), The Ring has learned.

Moran is most known for his losses against high-level competition like Devin Haney, Jose Pedraza, Arnold Barboza Jr., Jamaine Ortiz, and Andy Cruz. Moran, a 32-year-old from Mexico, got back into the win column in April by scoring a 10-round majority decision against the previously unbeaten Mykquan Williams.