- Shakur Stevenson announced on 19 October that Zuffa Boxing granted his release request over the weekend, so he is a free agent without having fought under the banner
- He says he spent about eight weeks in camp for fights that never happened, will run his own promotional company and is open to working with other promoters
- My view: the Haney fight is dead for now, Inoue is the name he wants, and Stevenson is right to take control of his own career
Stevenson Is A Free Agent
Right then. Shakur Stevenson has walked away from Zuffa Boxing before throwing a single punch for them. In a YouTube statement on Monday 19 October he said he requested a release, that it was granted over the weekend, and that he is now officially a free agent. Let’s not beat around the bush, three months after we covered him signing with Zuffa, that is a remarkable U-turn.
His reasoning was simple. He said he spent about eight weeks in camp preparing for fights he was told were happening, and they never materialised. He was careful to say he is not blaming anyone, but you do not need to read very hard between the lines. I have not seen a statement from Zuffa at the time of writing.
What Happens To The Haney Fight?
The obvious casualty is Devin Haney. We watched the back and forth on social media, we covered the stalled talks and the 144lb catchweight agreement, and now it looks as though the bigger fight is off, at least for the foreseeable future. Stevenson has been clear that he is not moving up to welterweight yet. He wants a year or two at 140lb first, and he says it is on his own timetable.
Inoue Is In His Sights
The more interesting line for me is the one aimed at Naoya Inoue. Stevenson said Inoue “has got to get out of my way”, which tells you exactly where his head is: he wants the pound-for-pound crown, and he wants the biggest fights available at 135lb or 140lb. Make no mistake, that is a bold target. Inoue is levels above almost everybody in the sport, and nothing is signed or even close to it.
The Titles And The Record
He arrives as a four-division champion with a 25-0 record, holding the WBO super lightweight title after that dominant decision over Teofimo Lopez in January. That is a proper platform to negotiate from, and it explains why he feels confident enough to start his own promotion rather than wait around.
My Prediction
I will not sit on the fence. Stevenson fights on a card put together outside Zuffa within the next few months, probably with a major broadcaster behind it, and he looks brilliant doing it. The Haney fight returns in 2027 or 2028 when he does go to 147lb, because the money does not go away. As for the Inoue dream, I would love to see it, but I do not expect it before Stevenson proves he can promote himself. If you know, you know.