Shakur Stevenson says Zuffa Boxing released him before his first fight
The unbeaten champion says he is a free agent after weeks of preparation for fights that did not happen. He plans to start his own promotional company.
Shakur Stevenson said on Monday, 19 October, that Zuffa Boxing had granted his request for release, leaving the unbeaten American champion a free agent before he fought for the promotion. Stevenson said he plans to start his own promotional company, a change that puts the direction of his next fight back in his hands.
Stevenson said in a video on his YouTube channel that his request had been granted over the weekend. Zuffa had not commented on his account of the release when BBC Sport reported it. The terms of his departure were not immediately clear.
Why Stevenson asked to leave Zuffa Boxing
The 29-year-old said he had spent about eight weeks in training camp preparing for fights he had been told would happen, but none did. ‘I'm not mad at anyone, I'm not pointing fingers,’ he said. He did not identify a person or organisation responsible for the delay.
Stevenson signed with Zuffa in July, according to BBC Sport. The promotion, headed by UFC chief Dana White, was seeking prominent boxers as it entered the sport. Stevenson's departure means one of its high-profile signings has left without making a Zuffa appearance.
BBC Sport reported that Stevenson had been in talks to fight WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney and that those discussions appeared to have broken down. Stevenson did not say in his announcement that the Haney talks caused his request for release, and the status of a possible fight remains unclear.
Stevenson's plans after the release
‘I am taking my career in my own hands and starting my own promotional company,’ Stevenson said. He added that he was willing to work with other promoters who were as serious about his career as he was. He gave no timetable for establishing the company or announcing his next bout.
His most recent fight was a points victory over Teofimo Lopez in January. The Independent reported that the win made Stevenson a champion in four weight classes and earned him the WBO super-lightweight title. He has remained unbeaten through 25 professional fights, according to BBC Sport.
Stevenson said he still wants the biggest fights available at 135 or 140 pounds, where he holds a title, and envisages moving to 147 pounds in a year or two. BBC Sport reported that he plans to defend his WBO light-welterweight title before moving up to welterweight.
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Sources and context
- Shakur Stevenson ends Zuffa contract before even fighting for Dana White’s promotionThe Independent, republished by Yahoo Sports
- World champion Shakur Stevenson 'granted' release from Dana White's Zuffa BoxingBBC Sport
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.