What to Know
- Ring Magazine and WBO World Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson announced Monday he is leaving Zuffa Boxing less than four months after signing with the new promotional company.
- Stevenson, age 29, requested the release after without ever seeing a fight matchup booked.
- Stevenson announced the split himself via his YouTube channel, saying he will now be a free agent.
Monday’s announcement on YouTube from Shakur Stevenson about his future in boxing shouldn’t feel as surprising as it may have initially seemed.
Stevenson, age 29, from Newark, New Jersey, requested and was released by his new promoter Zuffa Boxing. The Ring and WBO World Lightweight champion signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in July, but has not secured a fight in the past four months. Stevenson’s last fight was an impressive victory over Teofimo Lopez Jr. in January.
Recent talks between Devin Haney, one of Stevenson’s rivals on the pound-for-pound list, for a megafight between the two American talents sputtered and then failed, reportedly over disagreements on weight limits and rehydration clauses.
Stevenson declared himself a free agent and plans to fight under his own promotional banner. He also made it clear he is happy to work with other promoters in co-promotional deals.
Stevenson’s YouTube message urged fans to get the facts from him, and not from any other sources.
Shakur Stevenson’s Announcement
Stevenson’s Full Statement:
It’s the one, the only, one of the best boxers in the sport. Actually, I feel as though I’m the best boxer in the sport, but I’m here to tell y’all about my wild journey that I’ve been on these past couple months.
“I’ve been working my ass off, staying focused, staying in shape. But I’ve been in camp for like eight weeks, preparing for fights that I was told was going to happen, and it has not happened. But look, it is what it is. This is the business of boxing.
“I’m not mad at anyone. I’m not pointing no fingers. But upon all of these issues and things that’s been going on, I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing. Now, over the weekend, my request has been granted, and now I am officially a free agent.
“And this time out, I want to tell the fans and tell everybody that’s in the public, that I am now taking my career in my own hands, and I’m starting my own promotional company, and I’m willing to work with other promoters and anybody else that’s out there that’s willing to be serious about my career, as I am about my career.
“But man, I’m just excited. I’m excited. I’m excited to be in this position. I’m excited to be starting a new journey, and the mission is still the same. I want the biggest and best fights available at 135 pounds or 140 pounds, where I hold my title. It doesn’t matter the name. It doesn’t matter who you put in front of me. None of these guys can beat me.
“And I say, give it maybe a year or two, we will get to 147, where everybody is pressing me to just be a 147-pounder. I will get there, but on my time and not on nobody else’s.
“So I appreciate y’all. Thank you, fans, for always tuning in. Thank you, fans, for always supporting me. And I’m gonna keep showing y’all why I am the best fighter in the sport of boxing, and should be number one pound for pound coming soon.
“Anyway, you’re a hell of a fighter but, do I get out of my way? Oh, also, I’m open for co-promoting and working with any of the networks.
Fans, get all your information about me from me. All of these other channels, all of these fake people that’s capping on my name, fuck ’em. Come to my channel if y’all want any information about me. This is the real channel to tune into. So keep tuning in. I’m gonna keep working, and for my people that trust and believe in my talent, I will not let y’all down.”
Stevenson Deals Blow To Zuffa Boxing
Neither Zuffa Boxing nor Dana White had made an official statement at the time of publication.
What does this mean for Zuffa Boxing?
Stevenson was a high-profile signing and shouted from the rooftops when it happened in early July. Without a doubt, Stevenson was the most significant talent signed by Zuffa as it worked to build its stable.
SHAKUR STEVENSON HAS SIGNED WITH ZUFFA BOXING ✍️
@Zuffa_Boxing x @ShakurStevenson https://t.co/BjRmMVzcoF
— Paramount Boxing (@ParamountBoxing) July 9, 2026
Now, Stevenson has bailed out fewer than 100 days after the original announcement. Meanwhile, another big-money signee, Conor Benn, was stopped by Ryan Garcia in two rounds in September.
Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia is struggling to find options after the IBF stripped him of his World Cruiserweight title.
White’s detractors are gleeful about Stevenson’s defection. White has repeatedly urged observers to refrain from judging Zuffa Boxing until the end of the calendar year. There are fewer than 75 days until 2026 is over.
There are no Zuffa Boxing cards scheduled in the United States before the end of 2026. The only card on the schedule is headlined by Chris Billam-Smith and Chev Clarke on Saturday, November 7, at the Copper Box Arena in London.
The Copper Box, a venue seating approximately 7,500 people, sold fewer than half its tickets with the upper bowl curtained off for Zuffa Boxing 11 on September 26 featuring local favorite Johnny Fisher, who barely squeaked by with a decision win.
Unless things ramp up quickly, Zuffa’s report card will barely show it passing. The boxing business is a tough nut to crack. The questions we need answered:
- Will this affect the allure of a Unified Boxing Organization (UBO) model?
- Will this derail any enthusiasm for the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, currently awaiting a scheduled vote in Congress?
- Will Stevenson’s defection be seen as the canary in the coal mine for Zuffa?
- Will the existing sanctioning organizations think about taking a harder line with its champions who decide to sign with Zuffa?
NY Fights will continue to follow the developments. Check back for updates.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
