Multiple-weight world champion Stevenson, 29, was one of the most high-profile and celebrated signings for the ambitious Saudi Arabian-backed boxing promotion, an enterprise headed by UFC owners TKO and combat sports executive Dana White as they look to make a major footprint in the sweet science.
The talented American technical wizard was heavily linked with a blockbuster bout against WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, a matchup that generated massive anticipation within the global fight community. However, those high-stakes discussions appear to have completely broken down behind the scenes, leaving Stevenson to announce that he is once again a completely independent free agent in the sport.
"I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing," Stevenson revealed during a recent broadcast on his personal YouTube channel, breaking the news to his supporters and the wider boxing world. "Now, over the weekend, my request has been granted."
Despite the major nature of the departure, Zuffa Boxing has not yet issued an official comment regarding Stevenson’s suggested exit from the promotional stable, leaving observers to speculate on the full internal dynamics of the split.
Dana White has publicly vowed to shake up and take over traditional boxing, much like the UFC revolutionized mixed martial arts over the past few decades. The most eye-catching signing of White’s boxing venture thus far was undoubtedly that of Conor Benn, with the promotion successfully poaching the high-profile British star away from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
Benn has already experienced a turbulent run under the Zuffa banner, having stepped into the ring twice for the promotion. His second appearance under the new promotional umbrella ended in disappointment last month when he suffered a devastatingly quick knockout defeat against elite world champion Ryan Garcia, a result that sent shockwaves through the division.
For Stevenson, his career has been defined by elite-level mastery inside the squared circle. His last outing was an exceptionally impressive and tactical victory against formidable American rival Teofimo Lopez, a triumph that cemented his legacy and saw him crowned as a four-weight world champion.
The New Jersey native was intensely keen to add to his already stellar resume by chasing history and becoming a five-weight world champion via a showdown with Haney. However, Stevenson says he has been left deeply frustrated by being forced to sit idly on the sidelines ever since he officially put pen to paper and signed with Zuffa back in July.
"I’ve been in camp for like eight weeks, preparing for fights that I was told was going to happen and have not happened," Stevenson explained, detailing the rigorous training routines and the mental toll of fight preparations that ultimately led to nowhere.
"It is what it is. This is the business of boxing. I’m not mad at anyone, I’m not pointing fingers at anybody," he added, adopting a pragmatic and measured stance on the professional side of the sport.
Rather than waiting indefinitely for the promotional machinery to deliver suitable bouts, Stevenson has chosen to seize total control of his professional destiny. "I am taking my career in my own hands and starting my own promotional company, and I’m willing to work with other promoters and anybody else that’s willing to be as serious about my career as I am," he emphasized.
Looking ahead to his immediate athletic future, Stevenson says he now plans to defend his prestigious WBO light-welterweight world title before eventually making a calculated and permanent move up to the welterweight division in the coming years.
