Dana White is actively attempting to lock down Shakur Stevenson’s next bout, confirming on October 6 that he spent several hours that afternoon working on fight logistics. White’s brief update provides concrete evidence of ongoing negotiations behind the scenes, though an opponent, venue, and official date remain unconfirmed.
“Yeah, we’re working on the Shakur fight right now. Literally today, a couple hours of my day today was spent on Shakur,” White said during his post-Contender Series press conference.
Reporters pressed White for details, specifically referencing his prior remarks that Stevenson would return to action before the close of the year. White declined to reaffirm that original timeline, and he chose not to disclose which specific opponent he is targeting for the promotional launch.
That leaves the next announcement particularly important. Time spent discussing a fight is encouraging, but Shakur needs an agreement that gets him back in the ring.
Shakur pointed to money as the primary roadblock stalling bouts with Gary Antuanne Russell and Raymond Muratalla. Stevenson posted publicly on X claiming both fighters demanded three million dollars apiece to step in the ring with him, urging Zuffa Boxing to pay the price.
The figures nevertheless help explain why choosing an opponent and securing one can be very different tasks. Shakur wants meaningful fights, while the other side has its own price for accepting a difficult matchup.
White did not say whether he was working on a fight with Russell, Muratalla, or someone else. He gave no indication that a deal was close or an announcement was coming soon.
Shakur and Devin Haney have been going back and forth on X over weight. Haney has offered to come down to 145 pounds without a rehydration clause. Shakur has repeatedly asked for 144, along with a 10-pound limit on how much Haney can regain after the weigh-in.
Whether 145 is low enough for Shakur remains unclear. He is asking Haney to make two concessions: fight below the welterweight limit and restrict his weight gain afterward by 10 pounds. Haney’s offer brings them closer on the catchweight, but the rehydration clause remains a point of disagreement.
