Shakur Stevenson says Zuffa Boxing’s plan to have just one world champion in each weight class is exactly what boxing needs, arguing that the current four-belt system makes it harder to put together the sport’s biggest fights.
“People could say what they want, right? But let’s be honest now. They saying they got they want one belt in an organization,” said Shakur to Chris Mannix on Zuffa having one belt. That takes away four belts, which make it easier for fighters to fight each other because now you don’t got three other champions that’s holding a belt.
“When we was amateurs back in the day, we used to go to a tournament and if we all at the same weight class, we got to fight. This kind of remind me of where I come from. I love this. This the best fight the best.”
Shakur said he’s believed for years that boxing would be better off with just one world champion in each weight class, not four. He likes the idea of one belt because he believes it forces the best fighters to face one another. The real test will come when that philosophy applies to him.
“I always wish there was one belt. Like I’ve been saying this before Zuffa came around,” said Stevenson. “If there was one belt, we wouldn’t have as much problems as we have in the business with making the biggest and best fights happen.”
Right now, Shakur is talking about Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis, but neither is officially part of Zuffa Boxing. Among the notable names already aligned with the promotion are Richardson Hitchins, Conor Benn and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela. If Zuffa truly adopts a one-belt system with mandatory matchups, Shakur may have fewer opportunities to bypass opponents he considers financially less attractive.
Stevenson already ruled out a fight with Rayo, saying it doesn’t interest him. That stance could become difficult to maintain if a single Zuffa title eventually requires him to face whoever emerges as the leading contender. Benn has also previously shown no interest in giving Shakur the weight concessions he has sought for bigger opponents.
Shakur also acknowledged that his recent dispute with the WBC influenced his decision to join Zuffa Boxing.
“My decision for Zuffa definitely kind of impacted with what the WBC just did to me because I feel like that was very wrong of them,” Stevenson said. “They know it was wrong and they still have not apologized. They still have not came to the table and said anything about it. They just took my belt that I worked hard for.”
He said that he met his obligations as champion before losing the title.
“I gave them the money. So, it’s like I did everything that I was supposed to do as a champion and they still stripped me of my belt that I really put in hard work for. So, yeah, it did play a part,” said Shakur about the WBC stripping him of his lightweight title after he moved up in weight to challenge Teofimo Lopez for his WBO light welterweight title.
Despite his criticism of the WBC, Shakur made it clear he has no issue with the WBO and intends to continue defending its light welterweight title while pursuing the biggest fights under the Zuffa banner.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/13 at 4:53 PM
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