Shakur Stevenson announces release from Zuffa Boxing, plans to launch own promotional company
Lightweight and junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson announced via his YouTube channel that he has been granted a release from Zuffa Boxing just three months after signing a multi-fight deal with the promotion. The 29-year-old Newark native said he spent roughly eight weeks in training camp for fights that were promised but never materialized, ultimately prompting him to request his freedom. Stevenson, who holds the WBO title at 140 pounds, said he now plans to form his own promotional company while remaining open to working with outside promoters. He also addressed ongoing speculation about a move to welterweight, saying he needs another one to two years before stepping up to the 147-pound limit.
I am now taking my career in my own hands and I'm starting my own promotional company and I'm willing to work with other promoters and anyone else that's out there who is willing to be serious with my career as I am.
Why it matters
For brands: Companies seeking to partner with or sponsor top-tier boxing talent should note that Stevenson is now operating independently and actively seeking promotional partnerships.
For athletes: Stevenson's free agency and self-promotion model could signal a broader shift in how elite boxers structure their careers and negotiate fight opportunities.
Read the full story at CBS Sports
Sources
- CBS Sports · Brian Campbell: Shakur Stevenson says he has been granted release from Zuffa Boxing after three months