Shakur Stevenson Calls on Zuffa Boxing to Fund Three Million Dollar Opponents
Shakur Stevenson says Gary Antuanne Russell and Raymond Muratalla each want $3 million, and Zuffa Boxing needs to pay.
Shakur Stevenson wants to fight. He just needs someone to write the checks.
The former unified champion posted on X that his two preferred opponents at light welterweight, Gary Antuanne Russell and Raymond Muratalla, are each demanding $3 million to step in the ring with him. Stevenson says he would take either fight, but Zuffa Boxing has to cover the cost.
"Gary and Muratalla want 3Ms to get in the ring with me," Stevenson wrote, per Boxing News 24. He made it clear the ball is in Zuffa's court.
The math gets complicated fast. With both opponents seeking seven-figure paydays before you factor in Stevenson's own purse, undercard costs, and production, a main event featuring either opponent would require significant financial commitment from Zuffa Boxing, the UFC-affiliated promotion that signed Stevenson.
The challenge is that while Russell and Muratalla are credible, dangerous opponents, neither has proven to be a consistent pay-per-view draw. Zuffa would be investing heavily in competitive matchmaking without a guaranteed return at the box office.
Stevenson's frustration is visible. He's one of the most technically gifted fighters in boxing and has been vocal about wanting meaningful fights. The question is whether Zuffa Boxing is ready to operate like a major boxing promoter and spend what it takes to build the events Stevenson's talent deserves.
This is the Shakur Stevenson problem in a nutshell. Everybody knows he's elite. Everybody knows the fights that need to happen. But the money never lines up, and here we are again with Shakur pointing at opponents and saying "pay them."
Look, $3 million for Russell or Muratalla is a lot. Neither guy sells out arenas on his own. But Zuffa didn't get into boxing to play it safe. If you signed Shakur Stevenson, you signed up for investing in his career. That means funding the fights that build him into a crossover star.
Russell is the fight I'd make. Two of the fastest hands in boxing going at it would be must-see for anyone who actually watches the sport. Zuffa needs to decide if they're serious about boxing or just collecting fighters. Stevenson is too good to be sitting around waiting for someone to cut a check.
