Shakur Stevenson leaves Zuffa Boxing – WBO champion to launch his own promotional company
After about three months without a fight, WBO super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has been granted his release by Zuffa Boxing. He is now a free agent.
Archive image · Photo: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 br (cropped and resized)
Shakur Stevenson is no longer under contract with Zuffa Boxing. The unbeaten four-division world champion, who has held the WBO super lightweight title since beating Teofimo López in January, only signed with Dana White’s promotion in July but has not fought since.
“I’ve been in camp for eight weeks preparing for fights I was told would happen but have not happened,” Stevenson said, according to MMA News. “I’m not mad at anyone, but I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing and over the weekend my request was granted. I’m officially a free agent.” According to Fightnews, he is starting his own promotional company.
He said he was willing to work with other promoters and wanted “the biggest fights available at 135lbs or 140lbs, where I hold my title”. According to MMA News, talks over a fight with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney broke down over weight and rehydration clauses.