Lewis Watson Uncrowned Mon, October 19, 2026 at 7:52 PM UTC · 6 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shakur Stevenson has announced his Zuffa Boxing exit just 101 days after signing a reported "multi-fight deal" with Dana White's promotional outfit — all without throwing a single punch .
The news came via the YouTube channel of the unbeaten 29-year-old on Monday afternoon, pulling the plug on his relationship with Zuffa Boxing, seemingly, following the breakdown of a failed fight with Devin Haney.
The two unbeaten Americans had been circling a potential showdown later this year, but negotiations ultimately became bogged down by disagreements over the weight and a proposed rehydration clause.
It signals yet another blow for Zuffa Boxing and White, who promised to "fix boxing" when they entered the sport full-time at the start of 2026.
"I've been working my ass off, staying focused, I've been in camp for eight weeks preparing for fights I was told would happen but have not happened," Stevenson explained Monday.
"It is what it is, this is the business of boxing, 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," the WBO super lightweight champion continued. "I'm now taking my career into my own hands, starting my own promotional company, and I'm willing to work with other promoters that are willing to be serious about my career.
"I want the biggest fights available at 135 pounds or 140 pounds, where I hold my title."
Stevenson also stated that he plans to make a future move to the welterweight division.
"None of these guys can beat me. And give it a year or two, we'll get to 147 pounds," he said. "I will get there, but on my time, not on anyone else's. I'll be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter soon and I'm open to co-promoting and working with any of the networks."
Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), Uncrowned's No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world . has clearly reached breaking point after a frustrating 2026.
The WBO super lightweight champion has not fought since beating Teofimo Lopez to claim the title in January. After signing with Zuffa Boxing in July , Stevenson appeared to be entering a new chapter of his career.
Instead, he has turned his back on White's outfit after the company failed to get a big fight over the line for him.
For a promotion that has consistently extolled a supposed ability to cut through boxing's usual red tape, it's an awkward early setback. Signing one of the sport's most talented fighters is one thing. Delivering the fights he wants is quite another.
White has spent years criticizing boxing's fragmented promotional landscape. Too many belts, too many competing interests, too many fights that should happen but never do.
His pitch was simple: Bring the sport into a more organized system, put the best against the best and use the resources of Saudi Arabia's Sela and TKO — the parent company of the UFC and WWE — to make it happen.
Stevenson was, on paper, the perfect signing to sell that vision. An undefeated, American, four-division world champion, one of the most technically gifted fighters of his generation. A man who had made no secret of his desire to face the biggest names available in boxing.
Yet the first major test of that promise has ended with one of Zuffa's most valuable assets heading for the exit.
Of course, there are always two sides to every story. And in boxing, there are often more than that — somewhere in the middle lies the truth.
We haven't yet heard White or Zuffa Boxing's side to this story, but if, as predicted, they claim Stevenson was being unreasonable with some his demands, financial or otherwise, it's hard to justify their hesitance considering the money they have already spent in 2026.
Conor Benn signed an agreement with the organization worth a reported value of $15 million for an appearance against Regis Prograis on the Fury vs. Makhmudov undercard, so surely the scope was there to overpay for one of the sport's biggest stars?
Shakur Stevenson's time with Zuffa Boxing was short-lived.
If money is the issue, it would be remiss not to cite the ongoing question marks hanging over Saudi Arabia's investment in sport .
Zuffa Boxing is not simply a Dana White operation with UFC branding attached. It was established through a partnership between TKO and Saudi Arabia's Sela, with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, among its leading figures. Saudi backing has been central to the venture from the outset.
Saudi Arabia has transformed boxing's financial landscape over the past few years, but the question of longevity has always remained: What happens when the taps turn off?
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has decided to stop funding LIV Golf after its current season, prompting wider questions about the sustainability of its international sporting investments under its new 2026-30 strategy. This isn't to suggest that boxing is also imminently for the chop, but it wouldn't be hyperbolic to suggest that the honeymoon period Saudi Arabia's relationship with boxing is over. Welcome to the humdrum of marriage.
Spencer Brown, the longtime manager of Tyson Fury, told Uncrowned just last week that he expects December's Fury vs. Anthony Joshua bout to be "one of the last of the big fights" Saudi Arabia may finance. "Everything has to calm down," Brown said. "The money has to go down because nobody can keep paying that sort of money."
Whether Stevenson's departure serves as a red flag for other potential Zuffa Boxing recruits remains to be seen.
The coming months will tell us plenty. White has repeatedly urged the boxing world to "judge us on our body of work" after 12 months in the game. Well, as we hurtle through the fall, it is difficult to imagine a bigger story threatening to overshadow Zuffa Boxing's early progress.
For a promotion that promised to cut through boxing's B.S., losing one of its biggest signings before he's even fought under its banner is hardly the sort of work White had in mind.
Now, the challenge for White and Zuffa Boxing is this: Can they "fix boxing" without just throwing money at it? If it took just over three months for Stevenson to turn away, what exactly is this revolution offering — and, perhaps more importantly, what is it failing to deliver?
Source: Sports
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