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'Let's do it': Stevenson insists big fights can happen after Zuffa deal
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'Let's do it': Stevenson insists big fights can happen after Zuffa deal
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18 hrs ago
18 hrs ago
2 min read
The next chapter of Shakur Stevenson’s career will be in lockstep with Zuffa Boxing.
Zuffa Boxing announced on Thursday that it signed The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion.
While Stevenson’s signing marks a seismic shift for the boxing landscape, he maintained that all of the biggest fights that can happen are still possible.
“I can make any fight that I want in the sport of boxing,” Stevenson said on The Ring’s YouTube channel.
“There's no restrictions. It's no, I can't fight this guy. Boxing is not the same no more. Boxing is a lot different. The critics got to get past thinking in the old mindset. With the new mindset, it's the best fighting the best, and I'm all for it. I think Zuffa is all for it too, so let’s do it.”
Stevenson, The Ring’s No. 3-ranked fighter pound-for-pound and No. 1-ranked lightweight, is coming off a masterful unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez to win the Ring and WBO 140-pound titles.
The dominant victory led to the slick southpaw from Newark, New Jersey, moving up four spots on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list and made him a four-division champion.
Stevenson signing a deal with Zuffa Boxing could set the table for a clash with Devin Haney next or down the line. Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), who is also rumored to be signing with Zuffa Boxing, is a three-division champion and currently holds the WBO welterweight title. Stevenson and Haney have traded words on social media and even agreed to a fight at a catch weight of 144 pounds in early June.
Haney, The Ring’s No. 8-ranked fighter pound-for-pound and No. 1-ranked welterweight, was mandated by the WBO to face Keyshawn Davis next. They have 20 days from June 30 to reach a deal before it goes to purse bids.
“Devin is a tremendous fighter,” Stevenson said. “He's tremendous at what he does. I'm way better than him as a fighter, in my opinion, but if it comes across my table, I'm down to fight whoever and whenever.”
Stevenson, 29, is the second current world champion to join Zuffa Boxing’s roster. Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia held the IBF cruiserweight title when the unbeaten Australian signed in January, but he was later stripped of that belt.
“If you pay attention to my last few fights, it was fights that I probably never even thought could get done because of the business of boxing, but the business of boxing is not in the way no more,” Stevenson said. “I think with Zuffa, with Turki [Alalshikh] backing Zuffa, it's just so much in the sport of boxing that can get done. Any of these guys want to say, "Oh, they want to fight Shakur, you want to fight Shakur,’ then sign it up. I'm ready.”
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