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Eddie Hearn Sounds Alarm After Shakur Stevenson’s Career Takes Unexpected Turn
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- Eddie Hearn Sounds Alarm After Shakur Stevenson’s Career Takes Unexpected Turn
USA Today News
Shakur Stevenson has officially signed with Zuffa Boxing , ending months of speculation about his future. The confirmation came from Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn during an interview with Fight Hub TV . Stevenson, one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters, now joins Dana White's growing boxing promotion as it looks to establish itself among the sport's leading organizations.
The move marks a major change for Stevenson after his time with Matchroom and DAZN. Zuffa Boxing, launched in late 2025 with strong Saudi backing, has been aggressively signing fighters and building its roster. While the promotion has added several notable names, questions remain about how it will match its fighters and deliver the major bouts fans want to see. Hearn welcomed Stevenson's decision but also pointed to challenges that could come with the new deal.
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Shakur Stevenson Joins Zuffa Boxing After Months of Speculation
The news became official when Hearn confirmed Stevenson's signing during his interview.
"Shakur signed with Zuffa, so that will be him moving forward."
Reports linking Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing first surfaced in May. The undefeated champion enters the promotion with a professional record of 25-0 and 10 knockouts. At 28 years old, Stevenson is widely regarded as one of the most skilled fighters in the sport.
Zuffa Boxing has already signed fighters such as Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia. The promotion operates across eight weight divisions and reportedly has close to 100 fighters under contract. However, it currently lacks many established stars in the 140-pound division, where Stevenson is the undisputed champion.
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Eddie Hearn Questions Zuffa Boxing Matchmaking Plans
While Hearn praised Stevenson, he questioned how Zuffa Boxing would match him against elite opponents.
"But I just don't know who they're going to put him in with because Zuffa are paying these guys five times more than anybody else. You going to put Shakur in with O'Shaquie Foster and give him $15 million? I mean, good luck to Shakur. I love him. I said to him, he's great, mate."
Hearn's comments focused on the financial model Zuffa Boxing is using to attract fighters. While that strategy has helped build its roster, it could make arranging competitive fights more expensive.
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Potential opponents such as O'Shaquie Foster have been mentioned, but no official fights for Stevenson have been announced since the signing.
Shakur Stevenson Chases Legacy and Bigger Fights
Hearn also spoke about Stevenson's desire to build his legacy through major fights.
"I think Shakur is a legacy guy, but you get told all different things. They're probably saying to you, you're going to fight Haney, you're going to fight this guy, you're going to fight that guy."
A fight between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney has been discussed for years and remains one of boxing's most talked-about potential matchups. However, no agreement has been reached.
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For Stevenson, the move to Zuffa Boxing represents both a financial opportunity and a chance to pursue career-defining fights. Reports have suggested he could earn a multi-year contract worth tens of millions of dollars.
The signing gives Zuffa Boxing one of the sport's biggest active stars. Whether the promotion can turn its financial strength into the major fights Stevenson seeks will likely be one of the biggest stories in boxing throughout 2026.
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