Mercado (18-0, 17 KOs) recently parted ways with Matchroom Boxing and is one of the most dangerous free agents in boxing. The undefeated boxer says promoters have been calling, but he is still looking for what he deserves as he tries to fight a career-changing fight that could put him in the top division of the junior welterweight division.
Mercado's problem is that he currently falls into a high-risk, low-reward category. Fighters with major commercial positions have little reason to face him without major financial backing from projects like Riyadh Season or possibly Zuffa Boxing if the company becomes more aggressive in boxing.
Mercado has made it clear that he believes Keyshawn is one of the fights that should happen next.
“I think Keyshawn Davis, you know, he's not a world champion. I think we're both the same. I think we're at 140. I think we're both in the same place,” Mercado said on Brian Custer's channel.
“He and I just had a beef since the Olympic trials. I should have taken my box out on him. I didn't have that. So, I just held my own against him.”
“I wanted to give back. And what better way to take his than the paid ratings?”
“He's a hero, man. But we shared a ring or two. He tried to be nice. I touched him with the gun. I saw his eyes get really big.”
“I can't even wait to go there and expose him, that little act he's doing, man, it's not true.”
Mercado also dismissed Martin as a serious threat and suggested that several fighters quietly turned down opportunities to fight him.
“Frank Martin is not at my level, I find it disrespectful that people even put him in the same category as me,” said Mercado.
“Most of these top guys who are your favorites, they avoid me, man.”
“One of the top guys, the last one, Barboza, tricked me, they called me to fight him, I said, 'Let's do it.' Never look back.”
“Same thing as Frank Martin. I think all these guys think I'm crazy or something and when I go and tell them I accept the fight, they're just ghosts.”
Mercado also called for a future fight with Stevenson, while admitting that the business side would prevent it from happening soon.
“I think Shakur is a great fighter,” Ernesto said.
“People like to say, 'Oh, you have to deal with his defense.' Boom. He faced me. I can pop too, and I know boxing.”
“I fought styles like this many times for beginners, and I had no problem with them.”
“I need a chance to show it and get him out.”
Mercado is still waiting for the kind of advertising that can open those doors. Without major financial support behind him, the fighters he directs may continue to view him as a dangerous threat without the adequate reward that comes with fighting.
