Stevenson is facing an entirely separate obstacle. His efforts to arrange a bout with Devin Haney have led to a dead end, while Lamont Roach—another potential opponent he brought up—recently suffered a defeat against William Zepeda. Clear-cut options in the light welterweight division are scarce. This makes Mercado a highly risky and real threat.
Currently 24 years old, he is younger than Stevenson, possesses heavy hands, and has the fast reflexes necessary to trouble a master of defense. Furthermore, Mercado naturally competes at 140 pounds and does not need to jump weight classes merely for a payday. It is precisely this suitability that might make Zuffa hesitant to greenlight the fight.
Should the promoter aim to establish Stevenson as a prominent pay-per-view headliner, matching him with Mercado at this stage presents a massive gamble with little financial reward. A victory for Stevenson won’t necessarily translate into high ticket sales, given that Mercado is not yet widely known. Conversely, a stoppage defeat would be devastating.
Stevenson has established his fame on his uncanny ability to avoid clean punches. Yet, Mercado possesses the quickness, multi-punch sequences, and raw power to disrupt that defensive record, which could ruin Zuffa’s long-term strategy for their highly valued fighter.
This presents Zuffa with a highly complex matchmaking dilemma. Stevenson requires a respectable opponent, but the 140-pound division offers few viable candidates. Mercado, on the other hand, is motivated, highly capable, and already acclimated to the weight class.
Provided that Shakur’s agreement allows Zuffa to make the final decision on his opponents, choosing Mercado will serve as a true gauge of the promoter’s tolerance for risk. Looking strictly at the sporting aspect, it is a highly logical matchup.
If Zuffa’s goal is to turn Shakur into an undefeated pay-per-view sensation, Mercado represents precisely the sort of hazardous opponent they will likely avoid booking.
