Zuffa Boxing’s push into the sport appears to be gaining momentum, with Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez now reportedly close to signing deals with the new promotional venture. The two American stars, both of whom last fought in January, would give the company immediate name recognition as it tries to establish itself in a crowded boxing market.
That matters because this is not just about adding belts and resumes. In the U.S., fans have spent years watching top fighters get trapped in promotional silos, and any company capable of bringing together recognizable champions from different networks will instantly become part of the sport’s power structure. If Zuffa can land both Stevenson and Lopez, it sends a clear message that the project is aiming much higher than prospect development or one-off events.
Stevenson has spent most of his career aligned with Top Rank before also working with Matchroom Boxing. The slick southpaw is currently the WBO lightweight titleholder and remains one of the sport’s most technically gifted defensive fighters. His appeal to a new promoter is obvious: he is undefeated, still in his prime, and talented enough to anchor major cards if the matchmaking is right.
Lopez, who also built most of his career with Top Rank, brings a different kind of intrigue. He has been linked to possible fights against Conor Benn or Devin Haney if he finalizes a deal with Zuffa. Either matchup would immediately create headlines in the American market. Haney, in particular, would represent a high-stakes fight tied directly to the sport’s shifting business landscape, especially amid reports of a massive potential deal of his own.
The bigger question is what each man still needs to prove. Stevenson must show he can turn elite skill into can’t-miss events, while Lopez remains one of boxing’s most unpredictable top-level talents, capable of looking brilliant one night and vulnerable the next. If these signings get finished, the next move will be just as important as the announcement itself: who Zuffa picks first will reveal exactly how serious its boxing ambitions really are.