Zuffa Boxing Likely to Sign Shakur Stevenson

May 9, 2026, 22:36

Introduction

Reports suggest that junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson is close to signing a contract with Zuffa Boxing.

Main Body

Zuffa Boxing, led by Nick Khan and Dana White with financial support from Saudi Arabia, is changing its strategy to attract top talent. While the company already has about 90 athletes, adding Stevenson would be a major move. The 28-year-old is a four-division world champion with an undefeated record of 25-0. This follows his victory over Teofimo Lopez on January 31, 2026, where he won the WBO and Ring Magazine titles. Money seems to be the main reason for this deal. Although Stevenson previously denied rumors of a $60 million offer, journalist Chris Mannix emphasizes that Zuffa's guaranteed payments are now high enough to beat other offers. Furthermore, Zuffa has agreed to work with official boxing organizations, which is essential so that Stevenson can keep his championship titles. If this deal is finished, Zuffa will become a powerful competitor against established promoters like Matchroom, PBC, and Top Rank. By using their UFC marketing experience and Paramount+ distribution, Zuffa expects to increase Stevenson's popularity. Consequently, the promotion is planning a large stadium event in Las Vegas for late 2026, featuring a fight between Stevenson and Conor Benn.

Conclusion

Shakur Stevenson is currently finishing a deal with Zuffa Boxing, which could lead to a major fight against Conor Benn in late 2026.

Learning

🚀 Moving Beyond "And" & "But"

At the A2 level, we usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors. These are words that act like road signs, telling the reader exactly how two ideas relate.

🔍 The 'B2 Upgrade' from the text

Look at how the article shifts from simple ideas to complex arguments:

Adding Extra Weight $\rightarrow$ Furthermore
- A2 style: "Zuffa pays a lot of money and they work with boxing organizations."
- B2 style: "...guaranteed payments are now high enough to beat other offers. Furthermore, Zuffa has agreed to work with official boxing organizations..."
- The Trick: Use Furthermore when you have already made one strong point and want to add a second, even more important point.
Showing the Result $\rightarrow$ Consequently
- A2 style: "Zuffa has marketing experience so they are planning a big fight."
- B2 style: "...Zuffa expects to increase Stevenson's popularity. Consequently, the promotion is planning a large stadium event..."
- The Trick: Use Consequently instead of so to sound more professional and academic. It links a cause directly to a specific result.

💡 Quick Reference Map

If you want to...	Stop using...	Start using...
Add information	And / Also	Furthermore / In addition
Show a result	So	Consequently / Therefore
Show a contrast	But	Although / However

Pro Tip: Notice the word "Although" at the start of the second paragraph. It allows the writer to put two opposite ideas in one sentence: "Although Stevenson denied rumors... journalist Chris Mannix emphasizes [the truth]." This structure is a hallmark of B2 fluency.

Vocabulary Learning

contract

a legally binding agreement between parties

Example:The boxer signed a contract with the promotion company.

financial

relating to money or economics

Example:The company received financial support from investors.

support

assistance or backing

Example:She offered her support during the negotiations.

strategy

a plan of action to achieve a goal

Example:They developed a new strategy to attract top talent.

attract

to draw interest or attention

Example:The event will attract many sports fans.

talent

natural skill or ability

Example:The organization looks for young talent.

athletes

people who compete in sports

Example:The promotion signed several athletes.

undefeated

not having lost a match

Example:He remains undefeated in his career.

record

a documented achievement

Example:Her record of 25 wins is impressive.

victory

a win in a competition

Example:The victory over Lopez was celebrated.

titles

names of championships

Example:He holds multiple titles in different divisions.

rumors

unverified information

Example:Rumors spread about a potential deal.

guaranteed

assured or promised

Example:The contract includes guaranteed payments.

payments

money given for services

Example:The payments were higher than expected.

official

authorized or recognized

Example:They work with official boxing organizations.

essential

absolutely necessary

Example:It is essential for the champion to keep his titles.

championship

a competition for a title

Example:The championship title was on the line.

competitor

an opponent in business or sport

Example:Zuffa became a strong competitor to other promoters.

promoters

people who organize events

Example:Promoters arrange fights and marketing.

marketing

promotion of products or services

Example:Marketing experience helped attract sponsors.

experience

practical knowledge gained

Example:His experience in the industry is valuable.

distribution

the act of delivering products

Example:Distribution through Paramount+ increased viewership.

popularity

the state of being liked or admired

Example:The boxer’s popularity grew after the win.

stadium

a large sports arena

Example:The fight will take place in a stadium.

event

a planned public gathering

Example:The event attracted thousands of fans.