Manny Pacquiao was reportedly the opponent Shakur Stevenson wanted most during his unsuccessful spell with Zuffa Boxing, according to journalist Sean Zittel. That gives a different look to a partnership that ended without Shakur fighting once for the company.
Zittel, citing an unnamed source, reports that Shakur’s enthusiasm for facing Pacquiao exceeded his interest in the other proposed opponents.
“The only fight that he really was interested in was Manny Pacquiao. That’s the one he was hot for, not as interested in these other matchups,” Zittel said.
Zittel acknowledged that he had not obtained Shakur’s side after contacting him and members of his team. His account does not establish that negotiations with Pacquiao took place or that the former eight-division champion received an offer.
Still, Pacquiao being the preferred target would tell us something about what Shakur hoped to get from Zuffa. A fight with the Filipino star offers a famous name and a chance to reach viewers who might not purchase a card against another light welterweight champion.
The sporting argument is harder to sell. Pacquiao’s name comes from achievements accumulated over decades. Beating him now would not answer the same questions as beating a leading fighter in Shakur’s own generation.
Shakur already earned a major victory over Teofimo Lopez in January. The follow-up should have been an opportunity to build on that performance while fans were still talking about it. Instead, months passed without another fight, and the Zuffa agreement produced no appearance.
Zittel also reports that a January bout against Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela in Newark was available. That would have given Shakur a date and an opponent, even if it lacked Pacquiao’s commercial appeal.
There is nothing unusual about wanting the biggest payday available. The concern is whether chasing a famous opponent leaves an active career waiting on a fight that may never happen.
Shakur is now free to pursue his preferred fights through his own promotional company. If Pacquiao remains on that list, someone still has to secure his participation and finance the event. Leaving Zuffa does not accomplish either task by itself.
