{"id":253768,"date":"2025-07-10T15:07:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/253768\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T15:07:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:07:09","slug":"stevenson-wary-of-white-in-boxing-trying-to-bring-the-pay-back-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/253768\/","title":{"rendered":"Stevenson wary of White in boxing: \u2018Trying to bring the pay back down\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shakur Stevenson may not have a reputation as the most exciting boxer<\/a> in the sport, but that hasn\u2019t stopped him from getting paid. No wonder the WBC lightweight champion doesn\u2019t sound particularly excited about Dana White and TKO getting into boxing.<\/p>\n

Stevenson is set to box William Zepeda this Saturday (July 12th, 2025) on DAZN (order here)<\/a> and is expected to make somewhere between $3 and $5 million for his efforts. That\u2019s money only the very top of the top athletes in the UFC make per fight, and Shakur is concerned that White wants to bring the UFC model of pay into the boxing world.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI like Dana, Dana is a great guy,\u201d Stevenson said on a recent Ariel Helwani show. \u201cI actually never really got a chance to meet him, but I kinda watch everything he says. So I\u2019m a studier. Only thing that I say: just pay me. Right? Okay. I\u2019m not trying to get a pay cut.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Shakur Stevenson on Dana White being involved in boxing:<\/p>\n

“The only thing that I’ll say… Just pay me. I’m not trying to get a pay cut. I know these guys are trying to bring the pay back down, I’m not with that.” pic.twitter.com\/x0mDUrwcpQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI know these guys are trying to bring the pays back down,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m not with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

When told how the UFC splits fighter pay in half to show and win money, Stevenson reacted in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cHell, man. F\u2014k me,\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cI disagree with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI disagree with that because guys, you want guys all to fight these fights where it\u2019s [even] fights. If you want them to get in the ring, if you tell them that they\u2019re not gonna make a certain amount of money if they don\u2019t win the fight, they\u2019re not gonna get in the ring. It\u2019s gonna create chaos and people not gonna fight each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

That ignores the fact that UFC has the leverage to just sit out fighters that refuse fights, but you can\u2019t blame him for not being familiar with all the ways MMA\u2019s monopsony power has to keep the pay down. He just sees the end result and doesn\u2019t want it for boxing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still unclear how TKO\u2019s boxing venture<\/a> headed up by Dana White and Nick Khan will change the landscape. On one hand, TKO doesn\u2019t spend a nickel more than they have to on fighter pay, ever. On the other, they\u2019re partnered with Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh, who is not known for his budget discipline.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Stevenson fights on The Ring 3, Alalshikh\u2019s third numbered card. Let\u2019s see how pay is looking by The Ring 13.<\/p>\n