The partnership has seemingly been severed three months after the fledgling promotional entity signed Stevenson as the crown jewel of its company.

But after several months of false starts around fights, most recently around a matchup against Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia before that, Stevenson announced that he's taking control of his own career moving forward.

"It is what it is; this is the business of boxing. I'm not mad at anyone, but I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing, and over the weekend my request was granted," Stevenson said in a self-recorded video posted on his YouTube channel.

"I'm officially a free agent. I'm now taking my career into my own hands, starting my own promotional company, and I'm willing to work with other promoters that are willing to be serious about my career."

Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) is The Ring and WBO champion at 140 pounds and The Ring's No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. The 29-year-old Newark, New Jersey, native last fought in January and sensationally made his junior welterweight debut by beating Teofimo Lopez Jr. in a landslide unanimous decision victory.

Stevenson was also the WBC lightweight champion at the time but was stripped of that title in February for refusing to pay sanctioning fees. Stevenson last fought at 135 pounds in July 2025, beating William Zepeda by unanimous decision.

Stevenson said he's ready to resume his career at his preferred weight classes rather than entertaining fights against heavier opponents at catchweights or the welterweight limit.

"I want the biggest fights available at 135 pounds or 140 pounds, where I hold my title," Stevenson said. "None of these guys can beat me. And give it a year or two, we'll get to 147 pounds. I will get there, but on my time, not on anyone else's. I'll be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter soon, and I'm open to co-promoting and working with any of the networks."

Stevenson looks to be the captain of his own ship and will navigate waters in search of dropping the anchor on the best available opponent.

Below are the best options Stevenson can consider for his next clash across the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions.

Stevenson has called for a clash against Lomachenko ever since he captured his first crown at 126 pounds seven years ago. But Lomachenko's career arc was never really aligned with Stevenson's during the early ascent, and Top Rank, who they were both signed with at the time, never forced the issue to secure a potential star-making fight for Stevenson.

In the final fight of his Top Rank career, after beating Artem Harutyunyan in July 2024, Stevenson, a WBC lightweight champion at the time, wore a Lomachenko-inspired shirt that read: “Bob [Arum] is saving his son from this ass whooping.”

Two months earlier, Lomachenko had picked up the vacant IBF title by stopping George Kambosos Jr., but "Loma" hasn't fought ever since; Stevenson has even said the Ukrainian is ducking him.

Although Lomachenko announced his retirement in June 2025, he appears to be preparing for a comeback ahead of his 39th birthday.

Lomachenko should certainly be entertaining mega matchups, and a bout against an equally crafty southpaw with tremendous amateur pedigree would make all the sense. If Shakur-Loma is ever going to be made, it needs to be next.

"Tank" Davis is another top star Stevenson has been calling out in recent years, but the oft-troubled Davis, a longtime lightweight lynchpin, has fought just twice over the last two-and-a-half years and doesn't have anything lined up.

A bout between Stevenson and Davis would match two of the best American fighters in the world and would prove to be a bona fide pay-per-view attraction. Stevenson has previously claimed that he doesn't need Davis to further his standing in the sport, but the truth is both fighters need each other – or else idle hands will continue to curtail their careers.

Stevenson and Schofield were supposed to square off in February of last year, but Schofield pulled out of the fight in the week of the meeting under murky conditions. The 24-year-old Schofield has since resuscitated his career and has a more solid position in the division after picking up the vacant WBA lightweight title, previously held by Davis, after beating Lucas Bahdi in a firefight earlier this month. Schofield told The Ring that he's all in on settling the score against Stevenson.

Like Schofield, Mason is another green and up-and-coming candidate who could potentially face Stevenson. The 22-year-old Mason became the WBO lightweight champion in November when he beat Sam Noakes and defended the title against Albert Bell in July. But boxing's youngest male champion has shown some flaws while developing on the main stage, and Stevenson could prove to be too much too soon for the Cleveland native.

Stevenson was open to facing the WBA junior welterweight titleholder Russell over the last month, but negotiations for a title unification bout never crossed the finish line due to Russell's monetary demands. It appears that the Russell boat has sailed, but a deal could be resuscitated if he readjusts his asking price.

Muratalla might actually be the next opponent for Stevenson, whether he likes it or not. Muratalla vacated his IBF lightweight title in September and was immediately installed by the WBO as the No. 1 challenger at 140 pounds. If the sanctioning body orders a fight, Stevenson might be forced to take it if he values the title he currently carries.

Navarrete, the IBF and WBO 130-pound champion, and Foster, the WBC titleholder, meet this weekend in a title unification clash, with the vacant Ring title also up for grabs between the division's top two contenders.

Foster has accused Stevenson of being terrified of him, called him a chump, and said he dominated previous sparring sessions. Those are certainly some strong declarations for Stevenson to digest. Foster has said leading up to the Navarrete fight that beating Stevenson would prove to be more meaningful than a potential run at the undisputed title. A fight in Houston, a second home to Stevenson and where Foster is from, would make all the sense.

Navarrete can severely disrupt such plans while also proving to be the perfect Mexican dance partner for Stevenson to further grow his profile. Navarrete made his 135-pound debut, albeit unsuccessfully, two years ago against Denys Berinchyk. "Vaquero" appears inclined for another run in the weight class, and if he beats the crafty Foster, it could prove to be a perfect precursor and preparation for the slicker Stevenson.

The 140-pound title picture will evolve through the end of the month. On Saturday, WBC champion Dalton Smith aims to defend his title for the first time against Alberto Puello, while Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov face off for the vacant IBF belt on October 31.

Smith has already shared that he has his eyes on Stevenson, and the Sheffield native would be the most attractive opponent from the foursome to face Stevenson in a title unification fight. In the process, Smith would also present Stevenson with the opportunity to make his debut in the United Kingdom, where former lightweight champions Lomachencko, Davis and Terence Crawford have fought before.