Stevenson 'granted' Zuffa release without fighting

Dana White, of Zuffa Boxing, recently experienced firsthand the challenges of control when attempting to sign Shakur Stevenson, the WBO super lightweight world champion. Stevenson, who signed with Zuffa earlier this year, shocked the promotion by announcing his release from the partnership after just three months. This exit reveals the limitations of White's control in the boxing world as it is difficult to have dominion over a star fighter's fights.

Despite securing Stevenson's signature, all of his most desirable opponents, including Jose Rayo Valenzuela and Devin Haney, were outside of Zuffa's stable, giving Stevenson the power to dictate his path. Stevenson's high earning demands and willingness to negotiate with rival promoters prove that even with a major promotion backing him, a star athlete like Stevenson can still exercise significant control over his career, making Zuffa's efforts to market him a complex task.