SHAKUR STEVENSON SAYS ZUFFA BOXING RELEASED HIM

Shakur Stevenson said Zuffa Boxing granted his request to leave the promotion over the weekend, about three months after he signed with it. Speaking on his YouTube channel on Monday, Stevenson said he had spent about eight weeks in training camp for fights he had been told would happen. None was confirmed during his time with Zuffa. “I’m officially a free agent,” he said. Stevenson said he bore no ill will towards anyone involved.

Stevenson signed with Zuffa in July, six months after he took the WBO super lightweight title from Teofimo Lopez by unanimous decision in January. Dana White fronts Zuffa Boxing, which Turki Alalshikh finances. Talks over a fight with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney ended amid a disagreement about weight. Stevenson was also linked with Gary Antunne Russell and Manny Pacquiao, but neither bout was agreed. His previous three fights were with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Stevenson said he was starting his own promotional company and would work with other promoters interested in arranging fights for him. He said he wanted opponents at 135lb or 140lb, the weight at which he holds his title. “I want the biggest and best fights available at 135lbs or 140lbs where I hold my title,” he said. Stevenson also said he was open to working with any television network. He said he planned to move to 147lb in a year or two.