HAS SHAKUR STEVENSON EARNED THE RIGHT TO DICTATE ZUFFA'S MATCHMAKING?

 

Shakur Stevenson has made it clear what he wants after signing what he described as an “insane” deal with Zuffa Boxing. The unbeaten four-division world champion is looking for blockbuster fights against boxing’s biggest names, but one matchup he isn’t interested in is against fellow Zuffa fighter Jose Rayo Valenzuela.

“I don’t plan on fighting Rayo. I don’t think that Rayo is a interesting fight enough for me to even want to fight him,” Stevenson said to Paramount Boxing. “So, if he is brought to the table by Zuffa or anybody else, I will be turning him down because I don’t really plan on fighting a Rayo Valenzuela.”

Instead, Shakur said he’d rather face someone else.

“I saw Gary Antuanne Russell beat Rayo pretty easy, and I would rather fight a Gary Antuanne Russell than a Rayo.”

Shakur also listed the opponents he hopes Zuffa can deliver during his run with the promotion.

“Imagine it being like Teo, then Devin, then Tank,” Stevenson said. “If I could get all three of them, I don’t even know what else I would do after that. Retire.”

Those are exactly the kinds of fights fans want to see. The question is whether Stevenson has reached the point in his career where he should be dictating Zuffa’s matchmaking.

There is no questioning Shakur’s talent. He’s one of boxing’s most gifted technicians. But resume and commercial value are important when a fighter begins telling a promoter which opponents he will and won’t accept.

At lightweight and light welterweight, Shakur’s signature wins have come against William Zepeda and Teofimo Lopez. Before that, his recent opposition included Josh Padley, Artem Harutyunyan, Edwin De Los Santos and Shuichiro Yoshino. Those are respectable victories, but they don’t represent a record filled with the best fighters from the 135- and 140-pound divisions.

The business side is also worth considering. Shakur has become more popular after his wins over Zepeda and Teofimo, but he hasn’t yet established himself as a proven North American pay-per-view attraction on the level of Ryan Garcia, Canelo Alvarez or Gervonta Davis.

That’s why his comments about Rayo are noticeable. Zuffa has made a major investment in Shakur, yet one of its own recognizable fighters isn’t even under consideration. Instead, Shakur wants the promotion to pursue expensive outside fights with Haney and Tank Davis.

If Stevenson had already built a resume filled with victories over the division’s elite while proving himself as a consistent commercial draw, he’d have a much stronger case for dictating Zuffa’s matchmaking.

Based on his accomplishments to date, it’s fair to ask whether the better first step would be helping Zuffa build its own roster before expecting the promotion to deliver ONLY the biggest names in boxing for him.

- Robert Segal

FRANK WARREN DROPS CONTRACT BOMBSHELL THAT STOPS DANA WHITE FROM PROMOTING ANTHONY JOSAHUA VS TYSON FURY

 

Frank Warren has poured cold water on Dana White's claims that he will promote Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.

Warren told assembled media on Saturday night, after Daniel Dubois' gutsy stoppage win over Fabio Wardley, that it is contractually impossible for the Zuffa Boxing chief to be involved in such a capacity.

Joshua and Fury have signed to fight each other after their respective tune-up fightsCredit: Getty

"Well, he's not [promoting Joshua vs Fury] because the contract with Tyson says that Zuffa will not be able to promote that fight," said Warren.

"I don't know [where he has got that from]. Ask him. I mean, it is just b******."

When Warren's comments were put to White at the Zuffa Boxing 06 post-fight press conference on Sunday, he quipped: "Then he must be right."

"I'm going to leave that alone," he added. "Apparently, I'm not the promoter, according to some people."

Queensberry vs Zuffa Boxing

Earlier this year, Warren threatened legal action against Saudi Arabian state-owned entertainment and hospitality company Sela and TKO Group Holdings, the American media conglomerate that owns the UFC and WWE.

TKO inked a five-year partnership with Sela and Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to form Zuffa Boxing last year.

Warren alleged in a 'letter before action' sent to relevant parties that the joint venture breached contracts that his promotional outfit, Queensberry, had signed with the Saudis and TKO.

Queensberry claims to have signed an exclusive deal with Sela in September 2023 to provide boxing services.

Warren's company says it also reached a separate agreement with TKO, granting the sports giant access to Queenberry's online data, including details of its contract with Sela.

Queensberry alleges that TKO and Sela used privileged information to go behind its back to create their new entity.

Warren has threatened legal action against TKO and SelaCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom

There has been no development on the case since February, when it was revealed Warren was preparing legal action.

Alalshikh and Warren sat next to each other at ringside for Fury's comeback fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov, and will work together for Joshua vs Fury, which is being targeted for the back end of the year after both men participate in tune-up fights.

Discussing the current state of his relationship with the Saudis during a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Warren said: "Riyadh Season for me was a blast, everyone cooperated to put on some great shows, and I enjoyed it.

"But things are what they are, and you have to keep evolving and moving on.

"They are talking about Agit [Kabayel] fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk, and Agit is with us, so if that is going to happen, then we are going to have to work together on it.

"The same with Hamzah Sheeraz, it's the same thng."

- George Glinski

'DEVASTATED' EDDIE HEARN HITS OUT AT CONNOR BENN AFTER BOXER DUMPED PROMOTER FOR DANA' WHITE'S FLEDGLING COMLANY - AND REVEALS STAR'S SHOCKING REACTION WHEN HE ASKED FOR A PHONE CALL MOMENTS BEFORE 'PAINFUL' SPLIT'

Eddie Hearn has revealed he is 'devastated' following Conor Benn's decision to sign with Dana White's outfit Zuffa Boxing - and admitted that he may have 'misjudged the character' of the boxer.

The 29-year-old, son of British legend Nigel Benn, sensationally announced on Thursday that he was ditching Hearn's promotion Matchroom Boxing after a decade-long relationship.

Benn, who has ambitions of winning the WBC welterweight title, thanked Hearn for standing by him during the tough periods of his career and said he was excited for a 'new chapter' aimed at securing 'legacy fights' on the biggest stages.

But Hearn, whose promotion guided the British boxing star from his 2016 debut to headlining cards and stuck by him through a series of failed drug tests, has hit out at the fighter.

Speaking to iFL TV after Benn's bombshell announcement, the 46-year-old promoter claimed he was informed of the decision by the boxer's lawyer before being refused a phone call with him.

Benn announced he was joining the promotion led by Dana White late on Friday evening

'Me personally, pretty devastated,' Hearn said of his reaction to the news. 'I have had a few days to digest what might happen. It is not often you get shocked. 

'I blame myself. I forgot it was boxing. I just felt the loyalty that we have shown would never ever put us in this position.'

Hearn added that he 'misjudged the character' of Benn by feeling the 'loyalty' he had shown him 'would be enough to talk it through or get close to a number'.

He continued: 'It feels a little bit of a wasted few years. I gave a lot... I believed him and I backed him and I never gave in when he was done, out. Loaned him hundreds of thousands of pounds, but yeah on we go.'

'I just think the way it was done was very very wrong,' he added. 'But everyone is different. Some people, loyalty really matters, other people maybe not so. 

'The way it played out to receive an email from the lawyer and then to ask for a call and not the willingness to have it, you just lose a bit of your soul to it.'

Benn, whose most recent fight was his rematch victory over Chris Eubank Jr in December, announced his decision late on Friday night and led his social media statements thanking Hearn and Matchroom 'for everything they've done'.

The 29-year-old beat Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch between the fighters last December

But Eubank Jr, who won the first fight last April, launched a scathing attack on his old foe on X.

'So Eddie Hearns (sic) #1 fighter has now left him,' the boxer's post read.

'Eddie stuck by Conor Benn through thick & thin, getting him off of drug charges & giving him money to live when he had nothing. 

'I guess this really shows just how much of a scumbag Hearn actually is… he saves his fighters life & career & Conor still doesn’t want to be involved with him. Or is Benn the scumbag for dumping the man that built him? (thinking emoji).

Hearn admitted that he may have 'misjudged the character' of British welterweight star Benn

'This really is a conundrum. Scumbag on scumbag violence at its finest… don’t say I didn’t tell you guys.'

Benn claimed Zuffa Boxing 'presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse' and said he hoped his old promoter could 'continue to be a part of my team'.

'I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing,' Benn's statement continued. 

'I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.'

The announcement came as a major shock in the sport, given Matchroom's decision to stick by Benn when he failed two drug tests in 2022. 

The promotion's continued backing throughout the episode was widely noted, and Benn eventually returned to boxing on home soil in late 2024.

Against that backdrop, Benn's move to Zuffa - founded by UFC chief executive White - appears motivated by both financial and strategic factors.

Benn has long pursued Ryan Garcia and speculation is abound that he could now face him

The deal is understood in boxing circles to be lucrative - reportedly a one-fight agreement worth eight figures - which would leave Benn a free agent again after his promotional debut with Zuffa.

The switch also places Benn at the centre of the new promoter's early ambitions to attract high-profile names and stage blockbuster events. Among the potential targets generating intrigue is American star Ryan Garcia, whom Benn has long pursued.

Garcia's own promotional situation remains uncertain amid conflicting claims involving Golden Boy Promotions and founder Oscar De La Hoya. Garcia has suggested his contract with Golden Boy is due to expire on Sunday, while De La Hoya maintains multiple bouts remain on the agreement.

The public back-and-forth, set against Benn's new deal with Zuffa, has intensified speculation that a Benn-Garcia showdown could materialise as one of the promotion's first marquee matchups if the contractual picture clears.

It is understood Zuffa is planning multiple London events throughout 2026, raising the prospect of Benn and Garcia headlining a blockbuster show after Benn previously claimed the pair could sell out a stadium.

Benn is also expected to be ringside for Garcia's forthcoming contest against Mario Barrios, raising the prospect of a face-off or promotional moment that could further stoke anticipation around a possible transatlantic showdown.

White called Benn's signing a 'huge addition' to his team.

'Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar,' he said in a statement. 

'He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out.

'He's ready for a world title next and I can't wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing.

'He's going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers.'

- CIARAN FOREMAN