Zuffa Boxing Ends Shakur Stevenson Association
Dana White said Zuffa Boxing and Shakur Stevenson agreed to part ways after a phone call with Stevenson's team.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Boxing
Zuffa Boxing has ended its association with boxer Shakur Stevenson, with Dana White saying the separation was initiated by him during a phone call with Stevenson's team. The split was announced at a post-fight press conference in London on Saturday.
Why it matters
The departure removes a prominent domestic fighter from the new promotion just as it is building its roster. White denied that Stevenson's demands were tied to Conor Benn's reported purse for his bout with Regis Prograis.
Conor Benn's reported purse for his bout with Regis Prograis was $15 million, a figure White said did not trigger the split. Zuffa Boxing has been operating for eight or nine months, according to White.
The players
Dana White
Dana White is the CEO of the UFC and the head of Zuffa Boxing, the promotion behind the new boxing venture.
Shakur Stevenson
Shakur Stevenson is an American professional boxer known for his lightweight and junior lightweight title runs.
The details
White said he proposed the separation in a phone call with Stevenson's team and that all parties agreed. He declined to say what Stevenson had demanded, and reporters asked him about other fighters including David Benavidez, Jaron Ennis, and Jesse Rodriguez, most of whom are committed to rival promotions.
Timeline
Saturday: White addressed the split at a post-fight press conference in London.
Eight or nine months: Zuffa Boxing's operating period at the time of the split, per White.
Roadmap
Zuffa Boxing is attempting to build a roster inside a market where most top-tier domestic fighters are already locked into commitments with rival promotions. Early departures like this one show how difficult it is for a newly launched boxing company to secure and keep marquee names.
Fans following the Zuffa Boxing roster will need to track which fighters are now unattached to the promotion. Stevenson's future bouts will depend on whether he signs with another promoter.
The takeaway
Roster stability is a key measure of a new boxing promotion's staying power. Watching which fighters commit long-term will show whether Zuffa Boxing can compete with established rivals.
Further reading
For broader context on the sport's competitive landscape, explore our Boxing coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boxing News 24.
