“With this new deal, I can make any fight that I want in the sport of boxing,” Shakur told Ring Magazine. “There’s not no restrictions. It’s not no, ‘I can’t fight this guy.’ Boxing is not the same no more.”

The undefeated WBO light welterweight champion said critics are still viewing the sport through an outdated lens and believes Zuffa’s model will change that.

“The critics got to get past thinking in the old mindset. The new mindset is the best fighting the best, and I’m all for it. I think Zuffa is all for it too. So let’s do it,” said Shakur.

Stevenson expanded on that point later in the interview, saying recent changes in boxing have already made major fights easier to put together.

“The business of boxing is not in the way no more,” he said. “I think with Zuffa, with Turki backing Zuffa, it’s just so much in the sport of boxing that can get done. Any of these guys want to say they want to fight Shakur? Then sign it up. I’m ready.”

While Shakur declined to call out a specific opponent, he reiterated that he is willing to face whoever emerges as the best available option. He also described the proposed fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis as “the biggest fight in the sport” before adding that he is prepared to fight any elite opponent if the opportunity reaches his table.

Shakur signed with Zuffa Boxing today as the promotion continues building its roster around a UFC-style model backed by Dana White and Turki Alalshikh. His signing immediately led to speculation over future fights against Gervonta, Devin Haney and other top names as the new promotion looks to establish itself in boxing.

“The fight is very close,” Garcia told BoxingScene. “Eric Gomez, Vergil Senior, Rick Mirigian, they all came to me and asked me what I think about the fight. I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ There is no need to wait for that fight, there’s no need to get a fight before that.”

Robert also dismissed suggestions that Ortiz needs another fight before facing Ennis, pointing to his recent activity and performance against Israil Madrimov.

“Vergil fought less than a year ago. There’s world champions right now that fight once a year or once every 18 months, and nobody says they’re out of timing because of the delay,” Robert said. “Vergil fought less than a year ago, and people seem to forget his performance against Madrimov.”

Garcia finished by making it clear that he believes the only remaining hurdle is Ennis’ side accepting the fight.

“The fight will happen. The only thing that could stop the fight is if Boots decides not to fight, but the fight on our side. It’s a done deal,” said Robert.

Ennis captured the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles with a seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas on June 27. Ortiz last fought in November 2025, when he stopped Erickson Lubin in two rounds. If finalized, the bout would match Ennis’ unified titles against Ortiz’s WBC interim championship in one of the division’s biggest unification fights.

“Ink = Dry ✍️

Let’s get it, @ShakurStevenson.”

The announcement ends speculation about Stevenson’s future after months of discussion over whether he would become one of the centerpiece fighters in Dana White’s new boxing venture.

Shakur (25-0, 11 KOs), an Olympic silver medalist and current world champion at super lightweight, is regarded as one of the sport’s most technically gifted fighters. His addition gives Zuffa another established titleholder as the company prepares to launch its first major events.

The signing comes less than three weeks before Zuffa Boxing 09, scheduled for July 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The card is headlined by Richardson Hitchins defending his IBF junior welterweight title against Eduardo Salas, while Edgar Berlanga faces Butler in the co-feature. The event will stream live on Paramount+.

Financial terms of Shakur’s agreement were not disclosed. Fans responding to the announcement immediately speculated about the size of the deal and which opponents could eventually be matched against him under the Zuffa banner.

Shakur’s signing is another significant step in Zuffa Boxing’s effort to assemble a roster capable of competing with boxing’s established promoters. While his first fight under the new promotional banner has not yet been announced, his arrival immediately strengthens the company’s stable ahead of its July 26 showcase in New York.