Shakur Stevenson says Zuffa Boxing granted his release and he is a "free agent"

Shakur Stevenson said on his Youtube channel on 20 October 2026 that he has been granted a release from Zuffa Boxing and is now a "free agent" after failing to fight for the promotion.

The 29-year-old, unbeaten in 25 professional fights and a multiple-weight world champion, signed with the Saudi Arabian-backed Zuffa Boxing in July, a venture headed by TKO and Dana White; he had been in talks to face WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney but those discussions appear to have broken down. The New Jersey native had expressed a desire to move up and become a five-weight world champion by fighting Haney before his dealings with Zuffa stalled.

"I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing," Stevenson said on his Youtube channel. "Now, over the weekend, my request has been granted."

Zuffa Boxing has not commented on Stevenson's suggested exit from the promotion. Dana White has vowed to take over boxing and signed several high-profile names, the most eye-catching being Conor Benn, whom White acquired from Matchroom and Eddie Hearn; Benn has had two fights with Zuffa, the second ending last month in a quick knockout defeat by world champion Ryan Garcia.

Stevenson said he had been left frustrated by inactivity since joining Zuffa and described his recent preparations. "I've been in camp for like eight weeks, preparing for fights that I was told was going to happen and have not happened," Stevenson said. "It is what it is. This is the business of boxing. I'm not mad at anyone, I'm not pointing fingers. "I am taking my career in my own hands and starting my own promotional company and I'm willing to work with other promoters and anybody else that's willing to be as serious about my career as I am," he added.

Stevenson's most recent ring appearance was an impressive victory over Teofimo Lopez, in which he became a four-weight world champion. That win preceded his move into the Zuffa arrangement and the subsequent stalled negotiations that Stevenson has outlined publicly.

He says he now plans to defend his WBO light-welterweight world title before moving up to welterweight in the coming years.