Bryan Mercado knocks out Brandon Gamez in five rounds

A little-known 122-pounder in Mexico is starting to make waves.

Bryan Mercado blasted out Brandon Gamez in the fifth round of a scheduled eight-round contest Friday night at the Domo de la Feria in Fresnillo, Mexico.

Gamez was the aggressor from the onset, but that came at a price as Mercado (25-1, 20 KOs) countered him with powerful combinations to the head.

His precision paid off in the third round after connecting with a right hand that floored Gamez. The 28-year-old beat the count, but Mercado continued to punish him.

From the opening bell, Mercado landed the more-accurate punches and combinations. Gamez was the aggressor, but Mercado connected with one-two combinations to the head.

Mercado scored another knockdown in round four. He bullied Gamez throughout the frame with left-right combinations that snapped Gamez's head back. With seconds left on the clock, Mercado clocked Gamez with another right hand that sent him to the floor. Gamez was subsequently saved by the bell.

Mercado mixed things up to put the icing on the cake in the fifth round. During an exchange, Mercado countered Gamez with a brutal right uppercut that he didn't see coming. The bout was immediately stopped as Gamez crashed to the canvas for the third time in the bout.

The triumph was Mercado's fifth straight knockout win. He has not lost since a four-round split decision defeat to Rigoberto Nava in his second pro fight in September 2015.

After opening up his pro career with 10 knockout victories in 10 fights, Gamez has now himself been knocked out in back-to-back bouts.

Gamez, who resides in Los Mochis, Mexico, drops to 12-2, 10 KOs. He has now lost back-to-back fights, both by knockout.

In the co-feature, Yuliahn Luna of Gomez Palacio, Mexico made the third successful defense of her WBC world Female bantamweight title, defeating Argentina’s Vanesa Taborda (11-15-3, 1 KO) by unanimous decision.

Scores were 100-89, 100-89, and 99-90 for Luna, who improves to 25-3-1, 4 KOs.

Luna dropped Taborda in the second round, courtesy of a left hook to the head. Taborda was game, but Luna displayed her pedigree, mixing her attack throughout the fight by countering Taborda or taking the initiative and outboxing Taborda.

In junior lightweight action, Rodolfo Bustamante of Culiacan, Mexico improved to 19-1-1, 12 KOs, dropping Guadalajara’s Miguel Angel Gonzalez three times en route to a fifth round knockout victory.

Bustamante dropped Gonzalez twice in the fourth round and once in the fifth round, all from left hooks to the body.