World champion Shakur Stevenson says he has secured a release from Zuffa Boxing without ever fighting for the promotion. The multiple-weight world champion, 29, was one of several high-profile signings for the Saudi Arabian-backed boxing promotion headed by UFC owners TKO and Dana White.
Stevenson was in talks to fight WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, but those discussions appear to have broken down, with Stevenson saying he is 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 commented on Stevenson's suggested exit.
White has vowed to take over boxing, and his most eye-catching signing was Conor Benn, who was poached 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 become a five-weight world champion by fighting Haney, but 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." He now plans to start his own promotional company, defend his WBO light-welterweight world title, and move up to welterweight in the coming years.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing