Devin Haney & Shakur Stevenson to Sign with Zuffa Boxing?

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Reporting here: 140-pound titleholder Shakur Stevenson is finalizing a deal with Zuffa Boxing. Stevenson set to join Conor Benn as the most high profile names in the Zuffa stable.




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Devin Haney's move to Zuffa Boxing could be confirmed in the next few days.

According to reports, Haney wil sign a $100m deal with Dana White and TKO.

[Cent0089]

Wow didnt expected that. Haney vs Shakur, Benn vs Hitchins. Then winner vs winner for Zuffa welter belt and suddenly that piece of plastic will mean something

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wow didnt expected that. Haney vs Shakur, Benn vs Hitchins. Then winner vs winner for Zuffa welter belt and suddenly that piece of plastic will mean something

if it means we get those fights, then it's worth it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shakur Stevenson ‘finalising’ major promotional deal that could have big repercussions in the sport

Shakur Stevenson is reportedly finalising a promotional deal that could have significant repercussions on the future of his career.

The 28-year-old is already considered one of boxing’s premier stars, certainly a top five pound-for-pound operator, but whether he maintains this lofty status is another matter entirely.

Based purely on his talent, many have tipped the American to go down as a first-ballot Hall of Famer and, quite possibly, one of the 21st century’s most gifted fighters.

In order to realise his full potential, though, Stevenson must prove himself against a selection of elite competitors in and around his current weight class of 140lbs.

He has already done so to a certain extent, dethroning Teofimo Lopez to claim the WBO world super-lightweight title by unanimous decision earlier this year.

But now, it remains unclear as to whether he will secure further world titles, or just simply be involved in fights that make the most financial sense.

This is because boxing journalist Chris Mannix has reported that Stevenson is close to inking a promotional deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

“140[lb] titleholder Shakur Stevenson is finalising a deal with Zuffa Boxing. Stevenson [is] set to join Conor Benn as [one of] the most high-profile names in the Zuffa stable.”

It is unclear whether or not Zuffa’s original plan to recogne only eight weight classes remains. If it does, Stevenson would likely campaign at 135 or 147lbs if he is to sign with the promotional outfit.

Additionally, UFC boss White has made it clear that, while he is happy to accommodate fighters in certain cases, he would rather they fight for the ‘Zuffa title’ than any sanctioning body belts.

Stevenson has, of course, already become a four-division world champion, but it remains to be seen whether he will enhance his legacy by collecting further titles of such historic significance. With Zuffa’s close ties to the Ring Magazine, Stevenson could well still feature heavily on those cards for the traditional belts.

If the deal comes good, Zuffa have landed one of the best fighters in the sport and a man many want to fight, strengthening their bargaining position.

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Eddie Hearn Goes Off On Zuffa:

“Shakur, if Devin signs, Benn, they are signing to fight on Ring/Netflix cards. None of them are gonna be fighting on Zuffa shows. The Zuffa shows remain in the garage with your own gloves, shoes and socks provided for you.“

[Perseus]

Wow didnt expected that. Haney vs Shakur, Benn vs Hitchins. Then winner vs winner for Zuffa welter belt and suddenly that piece of plastic will mean something

if it means we get those fights, then it's worth it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eddie Hearn says Shakur Stevenson bound for Zuffa Boxing

Shakur Stevenson’s former promoter Eddie Hearn told reporters Monday the unbeaten four-division champion is headed to Zuffa Boxing.

While the union is not official, two individuals familiar with the talks indicated it’s on course with an announcement imminent.

Stevenson, a 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist from Newark, New Jersey, gives Zuffa Boxing its most decorated champion yet, a 28-year-old left-hander who’s won world titles from featherweight to super-lightweight.

In January, he convincingly out-pointed former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden to improve to 25-0 with 11 knockouts.

Recently, Stevenson was jawing with WBC super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster following Foster’s successful title defense versus Stevenson friend Raymond Ford Saturday night in Houston.

Stevenson has also been linked to welterweight fights against champions Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia.

Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White hinted at the most recent Zuffa Boxing event that signing Stevenson and Haney was possible.

“I just don’t know who they’re going to put him in with,” Hearn said on FightHubTV while appearing at his fighter Anthony Joshua’s news conference. “Zuffa are paying these guys five times more than anybody else is paying. Are you going to put Shakur in against O’Shaquie Foster and give him $15 million? Good luck to Shakur, but it’s a weird model, and it’s a model that’s not going to last very long.”

Similar sentiments were connected to Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing when it started its reach into the U.S. market with DAZN in late 2017, and earlier with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions when it formed.

Zuffa has a lucrative streaming deal with Paramount+ and is connected to the powerful parent company TKO Group Holdings that includes White’s UFC and WWE, headed by Zuffa Boxing’s Nick Khan.

The promotion has its own cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, recent IBF 140lbs champion Richardson Hitchins, WBC top-ranked welterweight Conor Benn and former super-middleweight title contender Edgar Berlanga in its stable while backed by Saudi Arabia financier Turki Alalshikh.

Representatives of Stevenson and Zuffa Boxing either failed to immediately return calls or declined comment on Hearn’s statement.

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BREAKING: Shakur Stevenson has signed a promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing.

[Taansend]

Haney v Stevenson soon?

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Shakur Stevenson signs with Zuffa Boxing

Unbeaten four-division champion Shakur Stevenson has become the latest – and most significant – fighter to join the new Zuffa Boxing stable, promotion head Dana White announced Thursday.

“Line them up, one by one, and I’ll beat all the top guys once I get them in front of me,” Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs), said in a prepared statement. “With Zuffa Boxing, I’m going to go after the biggest fights in the sport and I will become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

Stevenson, 29, is almost there already after defeating two-division champion Teofimo Lopez January 31 for the WBO 140lbs belt. Stevenson, a 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist from Newark, New Jersey, has also defeated the likes of Mexico’s William Zepeda and Oscar Valdez.

“Shakur is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world,” UFC President and CEO White said. “He’s… undefeated and already a four-division world champion. This is a massive signing for Zuffa Boxing, and I’m looking forward to promoting this next fight.”

Zuffa said more information on his debut fight under the promotion will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stevenson’s top-ranked contenders at 140 include Emiliano Vargas and Oscar Duarte. He’s also capable of moving to Zuffa’s welterweight division, which counts former 140lbs champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela and three-division champion Devin Haney among its ranks.

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'Let's do it': Stevenson insists big fights can happen after Zuffa deal

The next chapter of Shakur Stevenson’s career will be in lockstep with Zuffa Boxing.

Zuffa Boxing announced on Thursday that it signed The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion.

While Stevenson’s signing marks a seismic shift for the boxing landscape, he maintained that all of the biggest fights that can happen are still possible.

“I can make any fight that I want in the sport of boxing,” Stevenson said on The Ring’s YouTube channel.

“There's no restrictions. It's no, I can't fight this guy. Boxing is not the same no more. Boxing is a lot different. The critics got to get past thinking in the old mindset. With the new mindset, it's the best fighting the best, and I'm all for it. I think Zuffa is all for it too, so let’s do it.”

Stevenson, The Ring’s No. 3-ranked fighter pound-for-pound and No. 1-ranked lightweight, is coming off a masterful unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez to win the Ring and WBO 140-pound titles.

The dominant victory led to the slick southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, moving up four spots on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list and made him a four-division champion.

Stevenson signing a deal with Zuffa Boxing could set the table for a clash with Devin Haney next or down the line. Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), who is also rumored to be signing with Zuffa Boxing, is a three-division champion and currently holds the WBO welterweight title. Stevenson and Haney have traded words on social media and even agreed to a fight at a catch weight of 144 pounds in early June.

Haney, The Ring’s No. 8-ranked fighter pound-for-pound and No. 1-ranked welterweight, was mandated by the WBO to face Keyshawn Davis next. They have 20 days from June 30 to reach a deal before it goes to purse bids.

“Devin is a tremendous fighter,” Stevenson said. “He's tremendous at what he does. I'm way better than him as a fighter, in my opinion, but if it comes across my table, I'm down to fight whoever and whenever.”

Stevenson, 29, is the second current world champion to join Zuffa Boxing’s roster. Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia held the IBF cruiserweight title when the unbeaten Australian signed in January, but he was later stripped of that belt.

“If you pay attention to my last few fights, it was fights that I probably never even thought could get done because of the business of boxing, but the business of boxing is not in the way no more,” Stevenson said. “I think with Zuffa, with Turki [Alalshikh] backing Zuffa, it's just so much in the sport of boxing that can get done. Any of these guys want to say, "Oh, they want to fight Shakur, you want to fight Shakur,’ then sign it up. I'm ready.”

[joshj909]

Great to see him demolish Benn. Great to see him fight Haney. Then it's on Zuffa to sign Tank, Keyshawn, Azim, Smith, Muratalla, Boots and Ortiz. Otherwise they'll have to hold him hostage to crush cans for insane fees.

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‘I’m in the money-getting business’: Shakur Stevenson explains Zuffa signing

Shakur Stevenson said he secured the bag in signing with Zuffa.

With Shakur Stevenson the latest fighter to sign with upstart promotional company Zuffa Boxing, many have questioned the move as it would, on the surface, seem to preclude him from making any real notable fights given their current roster. Talking to ESPN, however, Stevenson simply claims the money from Zuffa was too much to turn down.

“I’m in the money-getting business,” Stevenson told ESPN on Thursday. Without getting into specifics on the financial details of his deal, Stevenson simply said “the money is insane.”

Stevenson would also clarify that he doesn’t expect that this signing will preclude him from making the notable fights he’d otherwise be targeting.

“I wouldn’t have signed if I can’t get the fights that I want,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson assured fans that he still wants the biggest and best fights possible and he’s in no way looking to take on small time matchups that won’t advance his career. That said, Stevenson said he’s not looking to make a run at undisputed and grab a whole bunch of belts, but rather take on the biggest prize fights the fans want to see.

Of course if Stevenson is to participate in the fights the fans most want to see, it means Zuffa will have to step outside of their edict of self-insulation to work with other promoters who have access to the fighters Stevenson would presumably need to be matched against.

How this all shakes out remains to be seen for the time being, but having a talent like Stevenson on their roster surely brings a little more gravitas to Zuffa.

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Shakur Stevenson not interested in undisputed status

Becoming an undisputed world champion used to be something Shakur Stevenson wanted to achieve.

However, after watching what transpired between George Kambosos and Devin Haney, who beat the Australian to win all of the belts in June 2022, Stevenson says it's no longer a priority.

“Undisputed was kind of watered down when I seen Kambosos get the titles,” Stevenson told DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “If it presented itself, then I’ll do it but I don’t care about it.”

“I’m not taking anything away from Devin Haney because he’s a tremendous fighter but when we look at how he became undisputed champion, he went to Australia and fought Kambosos.

"I feel like there are 100 different fighters in the sport of boxing that could’ve done the same thing. It was a great business decision because he caught somebody who wasn’t that good with all the belts but for me, I don’t care for it anymore. I just care about my legacy as the best fighting the best. If I go fight against Tank, nobody cares whether it was for undisputed or not. They just care about the best fighting the best.”

Stevenson currently holds The Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles thanks to his January win over Teofimo Lopez. He has also won titles at 126, 130 and 135.

Ultimately, Stevenson’s name is now being linked to WBO welterweight champion Haney, who is also rumored to be signing with Zuffa. In addition to wanting a fight against Haney, as long as it’s at a catchweight of 144 pounds, Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) also mentioned Gervonta “Tank” Davis as another opponent he would love to share the ring with.

Davis, of course, hasn’t been in action since settling for a majority decision draw against Lamont Roach in 2025, and has had various legal troubles to deal with.

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[Evander]

Heard Shakur got challenged by Shay Shay on a podcast to his style, saying if he goes total pure boxing and/or defence it won't be entertaining.
Something like that.

Kinda half agree with if true.