Boxing community in disbelief after 21-year-old Mexican fighter found dead only days before fight in Sonora

Jesús Iván Mercado Cabrera was only 21. The young boxer was found dead on Monday, 15 September 2025, in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. His body was wrapped in a blanket and tied with tape.

It was left on the side of a road near the highway that goes to the Gulf of Santa Clara. Local groups and police confirmed the discovery after a citizen report came at 10 a.m. Cabrera, called “Rafaguita,” was set to fight on 27 September 2025 in Hermosillo. He never reached the ring.

Jesús Iván Mercado Cabrera and his upcoming fight

Cabrera was from Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. He also lived in Nogales. He fought in the bantam weight class. His record was seven wins, nine losses, and one knockout.

He had moved to San Luis Río Colorado to train for his next fight.

He was scheduled to face Mexican boxer Adrián Ruiz Acevedo. The fight was set for 27 September 2025 at the Gimnasio Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada. It was part of the Noche de Poder 5 card in Hermosillo. The bout was meant to last four rounds.His family spoke with him on Sunday, 14 September. His partner said they had a phone call that evening. After that, no one could reach him.

His tattoos later helped identify him. He had one of Santa Muerte on his arm and one of the Yaquis de Obregón team logo. Both were easy to spot from his boxing days.

What witnesses and officials reported

The body was found after a call to the local search group Buscando Personas. Its leader, Mónica Espinoza Rivera, told El Financiero:“We received the citizen report on September 15 at around 10 a.m. … From then on, the boy’s relatives, his partner, and family from Ciudad Obregón contacted us.”Also Read: Serena Williams' Net Worth In 2025: Tennis Legacy, Endorsements, Business Ventures And MoreReports say there were no clear signs of violence. Still, the body was wrapped in a blanket and tied with tape. That detail has raised questions.The group Madres Buscadoras de Sonora also helped the family confirm the identity. Officials have not given a cause of death. The case remains under investigation.