The WBO light welterweight champion says marquee matchups now come first after signing with Zuffa Boxing and Dana White
Shakur Stevenson says becoming an undisputed champion is no longer his biggest priority after signing with Zuffa Boxing. The WBO light welterweight champion wants the fights fans demand, echoing the promotion’s vision of matching elite fighters against each other.
Stevenson recently agreed to a multi-fight deal with Dana White’s new promotion, which plans to operate under its own championship structure rather than relying heavily on the traditional sanctioning bodies.
“I’m not really thinking of undisputed. I just want to fight the biggest fights. I want to fight the guys that the fans want to see me fight,” said Shakur to Andreas Hale.
The comments represent a noticeable shift in priorities for Shakur, who still holds the WBO light welterweight title. Rather than emphasizing unification bouts, he made it clear that marquee matchups are now at the top of his list.
Shakur’s stance also aligns with the philosophy Zuffa Boxing has promoted since its launch. Dana White has repeatedly said he wants to build the sport around the best fighting the best instead of navigating multiple sanctioning bodies and competing championship belts. If that model takes hold, high-profile fights could become a greater priority than pursuing undisputed status.
Exactly what that means for Stevenson’s WBO title remains unclear. He could continue defending the belt while competing under the Zuffa banner, or he could eventually vacate it if the promotion establishes its own championship system.
Shakur appears focused less on adding more belts and more on securing the kind of fights that fans have been asking for throughout his career. With Zuffa expected to invest heavily in marquee events, he may soon have the platform to pursue that approach.