Boxing

Mercado claims Shakur Stevenson blocked him out of fear

Published

8 months ago

November 29, 2025

Image: Ernesto Mercado Calls Richardson Hitchins a 'Fake Champion'

Ernesto Mercado says Shakur Stevenson has been avoiding him since he drafted him. Matchroom-promoted welterweight contender Mercado (17-0, 16 KO) believes Shakur is “afraid” of him. He says Stevenson blocked him on social media.

Mercado, 24, tried to get Shakur (24-0, 11 KO) to fight him, but was unsuccessful. Instead, he chose to ignore him and fight the likes of Josh Padley, Artem Harutyunyan and William Zepeda to keep his undefeated record.

What was surprising was that Eddie Hearn didn’t try to match Shakur with Mercado while he was still under contract with Matchroom. Instead, Hearn handed Shakur Josh Padley, an electrician and part-time boxer, a mismatch earlier this year on February 22 in Riyad.

Hearn was trying to match Stevenson with former IBF super featherweight champion Joe Cordina, who defeated Anthony Cacace by eighth-round knockout.

“I think Shakur already has the idea, so he doesn’t really want to have it [fight]. When I called him, he really didn’t want to say anything. He was trying to avoid me the whole time,” said Ernesto Mercado Fight about how Shakur Stevenson didn’t notice him when he called out to him.

The 24-year-old Mercado would be a problem for Stevenson due to his punching power, aggression and pedigree. This wouldn’t be a fight where Shakur could hide on the ropes, as he did in his last fight against William Zepeda on July 12, or move around for 12 rounds. He would have to mix it up with Tito Mercado to win.

“He even blocked me on all social media. The boy is scared. At first it will be a tactical fight, but eventually I will break him and knock him out,” Mercado said about Shakur. “I see him for who he really is. He is a good boxer, but you also have to see who he is fighting.”

The punching power and pressure of Mercado’s fighting style would make him a threat to Stevenson. He is a completely different type of fighter than the 24 fighters Shakur has produced on his professional resume. In terms of size, Shakur and Mercado are similar, but power and a seek-and-destroy style are what set Ernesto apart.

“The top ranks at the beginning of his career when he was with them, they matched him really perfectly, fighting guys like [Oscar] Valdez, which suits his style. All these guys who fit his style perfectly. I don’t think it fits me very well,” Mercado said.

When Shakur was on Top Rank, they weren’t a forceful match for him. He was treated by Edgar Berlanga. They brought in previous fighters who were not a threat because he was defeated in the 2016 Olympics by Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez and unmasked in that fight. So in the 22 fights Shakur had at Top Rank, opponents matched him with opponents who posed no threat to defeating him.

Mercado returns after a break due to injury. Earlier this year, on January 25, he knocked out Jose Pedraza in the fourth round. Next month, Mercado will fight Antonio Moran (31-7-1, 21 KO) in a 10-round fight on the Matchroom card on December 10 at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California. Mercado vs. Moran will be on the undercard of Diego Pacheco vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo.

Nation Vegas has been writing about fighting games since 2012 and is currently a featured writer Boxing News 24. Over the years, it has built a reputation for extensive coverage of both major events and emerging prospects, delivering news, fight reports and features that connect with fans around the world.

With over a decade of experience, Nation combines insightful analysis with an accessible style, making his work a trusted source for readers who want to follow sports from every angle. His consistency and passion for boxing have made him a respected voice on the site.

Last update: 29/11/2025

Boxing

Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: You Have No Other Option

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: 'You Have No Other Option'"

Devin Haney is currently searching for his next opponent and Shakur Stevenson believes there is only one option for him.

Haney hasn’t fought since becoming a three-division world champion when he defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title back in November.

He has been rumoured to face a number of opponents since then, including Stevenson himself, but it looked like ‘The Dream’ would finally settle on a mandatory showdown with Keyshawn Davis after Top Rank won the purse bid for the clash last week.

Those plans went up in smoke when Davis pulled out of the contest, and Stevenson has explained why he thinks Haney now must target a battle against unified super-welterweight champion Jaron Ennis.

“You said you’d fight Conor Benn? You said you’d find Xander. Why the f**k you don’t say you want to fight Boots now? Matter of fact, you’ve got no other option.

“There’s nobody else on the table. There’s no me, there’s no Key[shawn Davis]there’s no Rolly. Who do you go to? Boots is free. Go get him.”

Ennis previously became unified champion at welterweight before moving up to 154lbs, making an instant impact in the new division when he stopped Xander Zayas in June to win the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles.

It remains to be seen whether Haney would have any interest in moving up in weight to take on Ennis, with ‘Boots’ also having been linked to fights against IBF champion Josh Kelly, and fellow unbeaten star Vergil Ortiz.

Boxing

New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight"

A newly-crowned world champion believes he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin by becoming the best middleweight fighter on the planet.

Canelo and Golovkin each ruled the 160lb division for a number of years, culminating in two middleweight battles between the pair and one at super-middleweight.

While ‘GGG’ may have last competed in 2022, Canelo remains active, but now fights at super-middleweight, opening the door for a fighter to step up and become the top dog in the middleweight division.

One man who believes he can do just that is Aaron McKenna, who won the vacant IBF middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Etinosa Oliha in Dublin on Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports following that win, McKenna explained how he has ambitions to pick up where the likes of Canelo and Golovkin left off.

“It doesn’t matter [who’s next]whoever wants it. I’m easy to find now, I have a belt. There’s no hiding any more. I want to collect every single belt in boxing. I’m the best middleweight and super-middleweight in the world. I don’t mind jumping up.

“The middleweight division’s there to be took over. It’s been dying for years since GGG (Golovkin) and Canelo left it. I said it again, a year ago, I think I’m going to be the man to take it over.”

The other world champions at 160lbs may have a thing or two to say about McKenna’s plan, as Denzel Bentley is the current WBO champion, Carlos Adamas holds the WBC belt, and Erislandy Lara is the WBA titleholder.

Boxing

Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates

Published

2 days ago

August 8, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates"

LIVE COVERAGE

Aaron McKenna faces the biggest night of his career as the Irish contender battles Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title in Dublin.

The all-action card also features Callum Walsh against Tyler Denny, Joseph Ward’s return at light heavyweight, and appearances from Stephen McKenna, Connor Coyle and Sam Hickey.

WBN provides live results, live scorecards from the two main bouts, and updates from every bout as they happen.

Live Scorecards

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha

Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny

Live Results

Times are local IST

18:31

Connor Coyle earned a hard-fought ten-round decision against Mark Beuke but was never in danger if losing on his Zuffw debut, before Stephen McKenna blasted Owen O’Neill out in one round soon after.

17:50

Patrick O’Connor remained undefeated at 4-0 with a TKO victory over Juan Manuel Moriel to kick the action off.

TV Coverage and Remaining Bouts

United States: Paramount+
United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha – Vacant IBF World Middleweight Title (12)
Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny (10)
Joseph Ward vs. Artjom Kasparian (10)
Sam Hickey vs. Brad Axe (8)
Louis Greene vs. Daniel Buciuc (6)

Preview

Aaron McKenna headlines in Dublin against Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight titlewhile fellow Irish star Callum Walsh steps up against Tyler Denny in the chief support.

Victory for both men would move them a step closer to a potential all-Irish world title showdown, a fight Dana White has already admitted is firmly on his radar.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.