Shakur Stevenson's recent exit from Zuffa Boxing has made waves in the boxing world, especially considering he never stepped into the ring under their banner.
The announcement of his release came earlier this week, but the reasons behind Stevenson's departure remained unclear until his manager, James 'J' Prince, addressed the media on Friday.
Manager Addresses the Media
Speaking with FightHubTV, Prince emphasized the importance of integrity in contractual agreements. He stated, "We want to move forward with relationships and situations where people honor their word and keep their word. That's important to us."
The manager elaborated on the challenges they faced in securing opponents for Stevenson:
- Stevenson, the current WBO super lightweight champion, had contracts in place, but finding the right opponent proved troublesome.
- Prince highlighted that a significant amount of time was spent negotiating a fight with Devin Haney, a situation he believes was complicated by outside influences.
Fallen Negotiations
Despite both fighters expressing an interest in the match, Prince suggested that the Haney camp had reservations. He remarked, "I think Devin wanted the fight, but I don't think Bill [Haney] wanted it. They found a way to sabotage it."
Stevenson himself took to social media to clarify that negotiations with Haney fell apart at the last minute over weight disagreements. He contended that Haney, initially agreeing to a 145-pound catchweight, later insisted on a limit of 147 pounds, which threw the negotiations into disarray.
Counterclaims from Haney’s Camp
In response, Haney refuted Stevenson's claims, mentioning he was on board with the agreed weight but was unwilling to accept additional conditions related to a rehydration clause. Prince countered these assertions, insisting that no such clause was ever proposed.
He pointed out, "Shakur was training for the fight, and I was told Devin was as well. But at the last minute, they wanted to shift to 147, indicating a lack of commitment to the original agreement."
Zuffa's Strategic Shift
When Zuffa Boxing signed Stevenson, they intended for him to compete in the 135 to 147-pound range. However, Stevenson made it clear he wished to focus on the 135 and 140-pound divisions, causing disconnects in their fight strategy.
Attempts to organize fights at 140 pounds fell short, leading to Stevenson's release becoming a viable option for both parties as contractual goals diverged.
Future Prospects
Reports have indicated that Stevenson was offered $7 million to fight Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela in January but instead asked for $15 million, a claim Prince firmly dismissed, stating there was never any significant discussion about a Valenzuela matchup.
The exit seemed to be a mutual decision, but Stevenson’s subsequent move to showcase criticisms lodged against Zuffa by former promoter Eddie Hearn raised questions. Hearn's comments directed at Zuffa Boxing's handling of Stevenson brought further scrutiny to the promotional company.
As Stevenson opens a new chapter in his career, the dynamics of his next move remain eagerly anticipated by boxing fans and insiders alike.
