James “J” Prince, the longtime manager of WBO super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, has finally broken his silence regarding his client’s abrupt departure from Zuffa Boxing. Speaking to the media for the first time since the announcement on Monday, Prince emphasized that the split was driven by a fundamental breach of trust. “We want to move forward with relationships and situations where people honor their word and keep their word,” Prince stated, highlighting that the lack of integrity in the negotiations was the primary catalyst for the exit.
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The manager detailed that while purse agreements had been largely settled, the impasse centered on securing a viable opponent. Prince specifically pointed to the proposed bout against Devin Haney, arguing that significant time was wasted on a matchup that was doomed to fail. “I think Devin wanted the fight, I think Bill [Haney] didn’t want the fight,” Prince claimed, alleging that the Haney camp engineered a strategy to sabotage the deal. He dismissed the various public speculations, asserting that the reality of the breakdown was straightforward and directly tied to the opponent’s reluctance.
Stevenson’s release marks a significant shake-up for the Uncrowned No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer, who remains the reigning WBO super lightweight champion. The incident has cast a shadow over Zuffa Boxing’s early tenure in the sport, as neither Stevenson nor the promotion offered official details regarding the specific terms of the release. With Stevenson now free to negotiate elsewhere, the market for top-tier super lightweight contenders has shifted, and Prince’s comments suggest the champion will prioritize partners who demonstrate reliability in future contract discussions.
Source: Yahoo Sports
