Shakur Stevenson leaves Zuffa Boxing three months after signing deal
The unbeaten WBO and The Ring welterweight champion says he asked for his release over a lack of movement on signing fights, and plans to start his own promotional company.
Post by @ringmagazine on X
Shakur Stevenson has been released from Zuffa Boxing at his own request, just three months after signing a blockbuster deal with the promotion spearheaded by UFC CEO Dana White.
The WBO and The Ring welterweight champion said the lack of movement on getting fights signed was a deal breaker, although he insisted there was no ill will. He now plans to start his own promotional company to control the direction of his career, and said he is willing to work with other promoters who take his career as seriously as he does. Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr are among the fighters for whom the same move has worked in the past.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Stevenson said: “Upon all of these issues and things that’s been going on, I’ve requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing. Over the weekend my request has been granted and I’m now officially a free agent.” He added: “I’ve been in camp for like eight weeks preparing for fights that I was told was gonna happen and it has not happened but look it is what it is. This is the business of boxing.” The 29-year-old said of the split: “I’m not mad at anyone, I’m not pointing no fingers.” Stevenson is unbeaten in 29 fights, with 11 knockouts, and has beaten Teofimo Lopez and William Zepeda. The absence of bigger names on his record has been debated, with potential fights against Ryan Garcia, Tank Davis and Devin Haney never coming together. Talks over a fight with Haney broke down again recently, and that bout is off the table for now.
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