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Boxing
Stevenson poised for Zuffa switch as Hearn questions 'weird' model
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Shakur Stevenson appears poised to make a sensational switch to Zuffa, with Eddie Hearn suggesting it is a "weird" move.
The American, a four-weight world champion, is set to become one of the biggest names to join the Dana White-led promotion.
Having defeated Teofimo Lopez to become WBO light-welterweight champion in January though, any move raises questions.
Hearn, who previously promoted Stevenson, suggested as much when asked on how the star may fare under new leadership.
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“I don’t know who they’re going to put him in with,” he told FightHubTV. "Zuffa are paying these guys five times more than anybody else
"Are you going to put Shakur in against O’Shaquie Foster and give him $15 million?
"Good luck to Shakur, but it’s a weird model, and it’s a model that’s not going to last very long."
Zuffa has signed terms with several leading fighters since its inception, but finds itself at loggerheads with the sport's traditional hierarchy.
Former IBF champion Jai Opetaia was stripped of his belt when he contested for their cruiserweight championship earlier this year.
Does Zuffa move singal end of Stevenson era?
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Eddie Hearn was on hand for Anthony Joshua on Monday evening in London - but boy, did the Matchroom boss set tongues wagging.
Links with a Zuffa move for Shakur Stevenson have done the rounds several times now, but this suggests concrete news is en-route.
The arrival of a four-weight champion and Olympic hero is arguably Dana White's biggest blue-chip play yet - but what does it mean?
With the sport's traditional sanctioning bodies unwilling to put their crowns in Zuffa hands, it seems the end of Stevenson's title reign.
Should it be the finale of his belt-led domination, then it has been a hell of a run. But could he possibly move the needle with his switch?
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