Tito Mercado claims Keyshawn Davis used Devin Haney for publicity

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado believes Keyshawn Davis never had a sincere intention to face WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney. Mercado suggests that Davis used the public calls for the matchup to increase his profile rather than to secure a championship bout.

Negotiations between the two sides failed to reach an agreement, leading the fight to advance to a purse bid. Davis ultimately declined the opportunity to fight Haney. While Mercado acknowledged the purse offered was not ideal, he argued that defeating a top pound-for-pound fighter like Haney would have resulted in much larger paydays in the future.

Mercado stated that Davis successfully used the situation to boost his name, noting that the resulting publicity worked in the fighter's favor despite the backlash. He argued that Davis has not yet fought enough significant opponents to claim a substantial resume, despite his status as a world champion.

Regarding the financial aspect, Mercado suggested that taking a smaller payday can be a strategic move to demand higher earnings later. He noted that beating a high-profile name like Haney would allow a fighter to command much more money in subsequent bouts.

Mercado, who is scheduled to fight Emmanuel Tagoe on August 15 in Atlanta, said he would have accepted the fight against Haney. He admitted that moving to the welterweight division earlier than his original plan to win a belt at 140 pounds would be a significant decision, but he viewed the opportunity as worth the risk for the potential long-term financial gains.