Dana White has given his model of Shakur Stevenson’s departure from Zuffa Boxing, revealing that he provided the unbeaten champion his launch earlier than the 2 sides parted with out staging a single struggle collectively.
The UFC boss described a mutually accepted cut up, with neither facet seeking to proceed the connection. That provides one other angle to Shakur’s announcement that he had requested his launch after weeks of coaching with no struggle materializing.
“I’ve nothing dangerous to say about him or his group, however I provided him the discharge, and so they accepted,” White mentioned on the UFC 333 post-fight press convention in Abu Dhabi.
White pointed to the brief length of their partnership and the absence of any accomplished fights. He declined to debate proposed opponents or clarify what prevented Zuffa from getting Shakur into the ring.
That leaves the monetary and matchmaking questions unanswered. White didn’t publicly blame Shakur’s purse expectations, establish a rejected opponent or accuse him of being troublesome to work with.
Nonetheless, providing a launch suggests Zuffa was comfy letting the connection finish. There was no public try from White to steer the WBO gentle welterweight champion to remain or recommend that dropping him had broken the promotion’s plans. That’s an interpretation of his response, reasonably than a proof he provided.
Shakur’s account centered on inactivity. He mentioned he had spent roughly eight weeks getting ready for fights that by no means occurred and needed to maneuver ahead as a free agent, with plans to ascertain his personal promotional firm.
The 2 variations don’t essentially contradict one another. Shakur might have requested a departure throughout discussions during which White provided to launch him. Neither account establishes the complete sequence of these conversations.
The instant consequence is easy: a deal introduced in July ended after roughly three months with out producing a bout. Shakur now has the liberty to barter elsewhere, however his subsequent settlement must ship an opponent and a date. Zuffa, in the meantime, has moved on from a signing that by no means reached the ring.
