Shakur Stevenson says Zuffa Boxing released him and he will start his own promotion

Shakur Stevenson is a free agent.

The WBO junior welterweight champion said Monday that he asked to be released from Zuffa Boxing and that the request was granted over the weekend. He never fought under the promotion's banner.

"I requested to be released from Zuffa Boxing," Stevenson said in a video posted online. He said he is now "officially a free agent." Zuffa Boxing has not commented on the split.

Haney talks fell apart

The move came after talks for a fight with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney fizzled. Both fighters blamed each other on social media. Last week they argued online over what weight the fight was supposed to be at.

"I've been in camp for like eight weeks, preparing for fights that I was told was going to happen and have not happened," Stevenson said. "It is what it is. This is the business of boxing."

A big signing that never fought

Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) is a four-division champion and a former U.S. Olympic silver medalist. He signed with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing in July in a deal White called "massive."

The 29-year-old is coming off a dominant win over Teofimo Lopez for the WBO 140-pound title in January.

His own promotion

Stevenson said he plans to start his own promotion to run his career. He said he is open to working with any broadcast network.

He also made clear that a move up to 147 pounds will happen on his schedule. "I want the biggest and best fights at 135 and 140 pounds, where I hold my title," he said. "Give it a year or two, we'll get to 147."

"I will get there, but on my time and not on nobody else's," he said.