The new Zuffa Boxing signing ruled out a fight with Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela while renewing calls for Devin Haney or Gervonta Davis
Shakur Stevenson has publicly ruled out a fight with fellow Zuffa Boxing fighter Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, saying his focus remains on marquee opponents such as Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis. The comments offer the clearest indication yet of the direction Stevenson wants his career to take under the new promotion.
“I’m turning the fight down publicly right now just in case that they do come to the table and say, ‘Oh, we want to fight Rayo.’ Shakur will not be fighting Rayo,” Shakur said to ESPN. “That will not be happening.”
Stevenson said his attention is on bigger names.
“Hopefully my next fight is with Devin Haney since Conor Benn isn’t here,” Stevenson said. “Or, hopefully it’s Gervonta Davis. I haven’t been calling his name lately, but now is the time to fight, so let’s do it.”
Rayo Valenzuela recently joined Zuffa Boxing and has been mentioned by fans as a possible opponent after Stevenson’s signing. Both fighters are now under the same promotional banner, making the matchup one that could have been made without the complications of working between rival promoters.
Shakur, however, has no interest in going in that direction with an in-house Zuffa fight. His comments indicate he is looking for marquee opponents rather than another fight against a fellow Zuffa boxer.
Haney currently holds the WBO welterweight title and has been linked to several potential opponents in recent weeks, including Shakur and mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis. Benn has also been connected to Stevenson, although he is expected to face Ryan Garcia if negotiations for their September fight are completed.
A fight with Gervonta Davis has long been one of the biggest bouts available below the light welterweight division, but discussions have repeatedly failed to produce an agreement. Shakur appears ready to revisit that possibility as he begins the next stage of his career under the Zuffa Boxing banner.