Shakur Stevenson can choose his next business partner after leaving Zuffa Boxing. Finding someone willing to meet his reported $15 million minimum could prove harder than finding someone willing to work with him.
Journalist Sean Zittel reported that Shakur wanted $15 million to fight Rayo Valenzuela, with Zuffa offering $7 million. If that asking price follows him to DAZN, the broadcaster would face the same question: does the fight justify the expense?
Shakur announced his departure by presenting self-promotion as the next step.
“I’m now taking my career in my own hands, and I’m starting my own promotional company,” he said, adding that he is willing to work with other promoters.
Running his own company would give Shakur more say in negotiations. It would still leave somebody needing to finance his purse, pay his opponent, and cover the card. The promoter’s name on the paperwork doesn’t make those costs disappear.
DAZN offers access to several opponents Shakur wants. That helps with matchmaking, but the failed Devin Haney negotiations involved money and weight. Those disagreements don’t disappear because both fighters appear on the same streaming service.
A mandatory defense against Raymond Muratalla could provide an even sharper test if ordered and sent to purse bids. Bidders would decide what they were prepared to spend on that particular fight. There is no guarantee the winning purse would leave Shakur collecting anything close to $15 million.
Without a Saudi-backed bidder prepared to spend heavily, he could face a choice between accepting considerably less and surrendering his WBO light welterweight title. That is a possible outcome, not a decision Shakur has announced.
DAZN could pay heavily for an opening fight. The harder question would come afterward if the revenue disappointed: would it keep funding Shakur at the same price?
Leaving Zuffa gives Shakur another chance to negotiate. It doesn’t guarantee the next offer will be better than the one he rejected.