Stevenson 'granted' Zuffa release without fighting
Shakur Stevenson says he has secured a release from Zuffa Boxing without fighting for the promotion.
Multiple-weight world champion Stevenson, 29, was one of several high-profile signings for the Saudi Arabian-backed boxing promotion headed by UFC owners TKO and Dana White.
He was in talks to fight WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney but those discussions appear to have broken down – with Stevenson saying he was now a "free agent".
"I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing," Stevenson said on his Youtube channel.
"Now, over the weekend, my request has been granted."
Zuffa Boxing has not comment on Stevenson's suggested exit from the promotion.
White has vowed to take over boxing and his most eye-catching signing was that of Conor Benn, poaching the Briton from Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.
Benn has now had two fights with Zuffa, the second being last month's quick knockout defeat by world champion Ryan Garcia.
Stevenson's last outing was an impressive win against American rival Teofimo Lopez, when he became a four-weight world champion.
The New Jersey native was keen to be become a five-weight world champion by fighting Haney, but Stevenson says he has been left frustrated by being on the sidelines since signing with Zuffa in July.
"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 said.
"It is what it is. This is the business of boxing. I'm not mad at anyone, I'm not pointing fingers.
"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," he added.
Stevenson says he now plans to defend his WBO light-welterweight world title before moving up to welterweight in the coming years.
Devin Haney & Shakur Stevenson to Sign with Zuffa Boxing?
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Re: Devin Haney & Shakur Stevenson to Sign with Zuffa Boxing?
Manager blames Stevenson, Zuffa split over 'wrong opponent' focus
The partnership between Shakur Stevenson and Zuffa Boxing ended before it even officially started.
After agreeing to a multi-fight promotional deal on July 9, Stevenson announced Monday that he and Zuffa Boxing mutually parted ways. His manager, J Prince, said the split largely resulted from the inability to land an opponent.
“We had a contract,” Prince told Fight Hub TV. “The purses and different things were pretty much agreed upon. It's just getting an opponent. I think a lot of time was spent on the wrong opponent, which was Devin Haney. … We no longer want to go down the road of focusing on this one guy, Devin, when there's other things to do.
“Most of all, we want to move forward with relationships and situations where people honor their word and keep their word. That's important to us. That's our focus now.”
The main target for Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion, was Haney, WBO welterweight champion. After lengthy negotiations that spilled onto social media on numerous occasions, the two never reached a deal due to issues over weight clauses.
While the partnership didn’t work out, Prince didn’t shut down potentially working with Zuffa Boxing down the line.
“I wish Zuffa the best,” Prince said. “I hope that they figure some things out and tighten some things up. I think they can be a force to be reckoned [with] in the future. Where we’re concerned, where Shakur is concerned right now, he's going to move on and do other things. Who knows? In the future, anything can happen.”
Prince said a fight against Manny Pacquiao was discussed for the undercard of Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on December 11. He said that Netflix, which will stream The Ring card worldwide, ultimately wasn’t interested in the fight.
Prince added that a fight with Jose Valenzuela was never discussed for the 29-year-old, and stated that The Ring’s No. 3 pound-for-pound is set to return at the beginning of 2027.
With Stevenson a promotional free agent, Prince said discussions are being had with multiple entities, including DAZN. Stevenson is coming off a dominant unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez to become The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion on January 31.
Stevenson’s victory made him a four-division world champion.
“Shakur can do what he wants to do,” Prince said. “He always was in that position before Zuffa, so nothing changed where that's concerned. He's excited. We're excited to do business in the future. The beginning of the next year, y'all should be getting some great fights.”
The partnership between Shakur Stevenson and Zuffa Boxing ended before it even officially started.
After agreeing to a multi-fight promotional deal on July 9, Stevenson announced Monday that he and Zuffa Boxing mutually parted ways. His manager, J Prince, said the split largely resulted from the inability to land an opponent.
“We had a contract,” Prince told Fight Hub TV. “The purses and different things were pretty much agreed upon. It's just getting an opponent. I think a lot of time was spent on the wrong opponent, which was Devin Haney. … We no longer want to go down the road of focusing on this one guy, Devin, when there's other things to do.
“Most of all, we want to move forward with relationships and situations where people honor their word and keep their word. That's important to us. That's our focus now.”
The main target for Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion, was Haney, WBO welterweight champion. After lengthy negotiations that spilled onto social media on numerous occasions, the two never reached a deal due to issues over weight clauses.
While the partnership didn’t work out, Prince didn’t shut down potentially working with Zuffa Boxing down the line.
“I wish Zuffa the best,” Prince said. “I hope that they figure some things out and tighten some things up. I think they can be a force to be reckoned [with] in the future. Where we’re concerned, where Shakur is concerned right now, he's going to move on and do other things. Who knows? In the future, anything can happen.”
Prince said a fight against Manny Pacquiao was discussed for the undercard of Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on December 11. He said that Netflix, which will stream The Ring card worldwide, ultimately wasn’t interested in the fight.
Prince added that a fight with Jose Valenzuela was never discussed for the 29-year-old, and stated that The Ring’s No. 3 pound-for-pound is set to return at the beginning of 2027.
With Stevenson a promotional free agent, Prince said discussions are being had with multiple entities, including DAZN. Stevenson is coming off a dominant unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez to become The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion on January 31.
Stevenson’s victory made him a four-division world champion.
“Shakur can do what he wants to do,” Prince said. “He always was in that position before Zuffa, so nothing changed where that's concerned. He's excited. We're excited to do business in the future. The beginning of the next year, y'all should be getting some great fights.”