Shakur Stevenson Walks Away From Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing Without Ever Fighting, Launching His Own Promotion

Shakur Stevenson is a free agent. The undefeated four-division champion announced Monday that he has been released from Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing just three months after signing a multi-fight deal, and he never fought a single time under the banner. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Stevenson said he is now taking his career into his own hands by starting his own promotional company.

Stevenson, 29, is 25-0 with 11 knockouts and holds the WBO junior welterweight title. ESPN ranks him as the No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He signed with Zuffa Boxing on July 9 in a deal reportedly worth well into eight figures, one that White called a massive signing at the time. His last appearance in the ring came in January, when he beat Teofimo Lopez by unanimous decision in the main event at Madison Square Garden.

Eight Weeks in Camp for Fights That Never Came

The frustration in Stevenson’s announcement was hard to miss, even though he stopped short of blaming anyone. He said he had been in camp for roughly eight weeks preparing for fights he was told were coming and that never materialized. “It is what it is. This is the business of boxing. I’m not mad at anyone, I’m not pointing fingers,” Stevenson said, before confirming that he asked for his release and that the request was granted over the weekend. “I’m officially a free agent,” he added.

The split follows a messy few weeks. Talks for a showdown with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney appeared to fall apart over disagreements about the weight and rehydration clauses, and the two fighters spent last week trading barbs on social media, each suggesting the other was the reason the bout was not getting made. A fight that boxing fans had circled for years never got off the ground, and now Stevenson has walked away from the promotion that was supposed to deliver it. Zuffa Boxing, which is led by White and backed by Turki Alalshikh, had not publicly commented at the time of publication.

Stevenson Bets on Himself as a Promoter

Stevenson said he plans to launch his own promotional company and will work with other promoters or any outlet that wants to do business, rather than tying himself to one banner. He has made clear he wants to get back in the ring quickly. He is eyeing fights at 135 and 140 pounds right now, with a move up to 147 pounds on the table later. The names on his wish list include Haney, Ryan Garcia and a rematch with Lopez.

It is a bold swing for a fighter who has been regarded as one of the sport’s elite defensive technicians but who has often heard that his style has limited his box-office pull. Running his own shop gives him control over matchmaking, contract terms and the kind of weight stipulations that helped sink the Haney negotiations. It also shifts the burden of selling the fights, securing a broadcast partner and financing the cards onto his own shoulders. For anyone who follows boxing odds at sportsbooks, the next big question is who Stevenson fights first and how the market prices it.

What Comes Next for Stevenson and Zuffa

For Stevenson, the immediate task is landing an opponent. He has been out of the ring since January, which is a long layoff for a fighter in his prime, and he is a free agent with a champion’s belt and a loud public profile. A Haney fight is still the most obvious matchup, though the weight dispute and the public back-and-forth will need to be settled before any deal could come together. A fight with Garcia would draw massive attention, and a Lopez rematch would run back one of the more competitive nights of his career.

For Zuffa Boxing, losing one of the sport’s biggest names before he ever fought is a setback to a young promotion that has spent months building its roster and its credibility. White and company have yet to say how they plan to respond, and boxing fans will be watching to see whether the promotion and Stevenson end up collaborating on a bout down the road, since he has said he is open to working with other promoters.

Whenever a fight is announced, the betting market will move quickly. Understanding how to convert American odds into implied probability is a useful starting point, and the odds and probability calculator makes it simple to do. For now, one of boxing’s most gifted champions is unattached, unbeaten and in control of his next move.