Shakur Stevenson Heading to Zuffa in Blockbuster Move

Shakur Stevenson is reportedly on the verge of joining Zuffa Boxing, marking a seismic shift in the sport’s landscape. Former promoter Eddie Hearn let the news slip during a press appearance Monday, and while the deal isn’t officially signed, sources close to the negotiations confirm an announcement is imminent. For Zuffa, landing the 28-year-old Newark native represents a major statement. Stevenson, a 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist, is an undefeated four-division champion boasting a pristine 25-0 record with 11 knockouts. He’s coming off a clinical dismantling of former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden, reinforcing his status as one of boxing’s premier defensive wizards. His resume spans featherweight through super-lightweight, giving Zuffa its most accomplished champion yet. The move raises immediate questions about matchmaking. Stevenson recently traded verbal jabs with WBC super-featherweight titlist O’Shaquie Foster, and his name has been floated alongside welterweight showdowns with Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. Dana White has openly teased the possibility of bringing both Stevenson and Haney into the fold. Hearn didn’t hold back his skepticism. Speaking with FightHubTV, he questioned the economics, suggesting Zuffa is overpaying fighters to a degree that feels unsustainable. “Are you going to put Shakur in against O’Shaquie Foster and give him $15 million?” Hearn asked. “It’s a weird model that’s not going to last very long.” Yet similar doubts were cast when Matchroom expanded stateside and when PBC launched. Zuffa operates differently, backed by a lucrative Paramount+ streaming deal and the immense resources of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and WWE. With Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh providing additional backing and a stable already featuring Jai Opetaia, Richardson Hitchins, and Conor Benn, the infrastructure appears built to absorb such moves. Stevenson’s arrival would signal that Zuffa isn’t just participating in boxing’s new order, it intends to dominate it. Photo credits to AI

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