Shakur Stevenson, who beat Teofimo Lopez, says he has left Zuffa Boxing

The four-weight world champion, who never fought for the promotion, says he will start his own promotional company after talks over a fight with Devin Haney appeared to break down.

Shakur Stevenson says he is now a free agent after asking to leave Zuffa Boxing, the Saudi Arabian-backed promotion run by UFC owners TKO and Dana White, without having fought under its banner. Zuffa Boxing has not commented on his suggested exit.

The 29-year-old multiple-weight world champion was one of several high-profile signings for the promotion. Its most eye-catching recruit was Conor Benn, the Briton White poached from Matchroom and Eddie Hearn. Benn has fought twice for Zuffa, most recently suffering a quick knockout defeat by world champion Ryan Garcia last month.

Stevenson had been in talks to face WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney in a bid to become a five-weight world champion, but those discussions appear to have broken down. He said on his YouTube channel: “I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing.” The New Jersey fighter said he had been frustrated by being on the sidelines since signing with Zuffa in July. He said: “I've been in camp for like eight weeks, preparing for fights that I was told was going to happen and have not happened.” Stevenson added that he was not angry with anyone or pointing fingers, describing the situation as the business of boxing.

His last fight was a win over American rival Teofimo Lopez, which made him a four-weight world champion. He now plans to defend his WBO light-welterweight title before moving up to welterweight in the coming years.

On his next steps, Stevenson said: “I am taking my career in my own hands and starting my own promotional company and I'm willing to work with other promoters and anybody else that's willing to be as serious about my career as I am.”

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