Zuffa Boxing has the money, the platform and one of the best fighters in the world, but a humiliating mistake involving Shakur Stevenson showed why winning over hardcore boxing fans will require far more than financial backing.
Only days after announcing Stevenson as its biggest signing to date, the UFC broadcast identified the unbeaten four-weight world champion as Oklahoma City Thunder player Jalen Williams.
The blunder immediately handed ammunition to critics already questioning whether Zuffa understands the sport it now wants to reshape.
Dana White has spent years arguing boxing can be run better. Stevenson was the signing meant to prove it.
Presenting him to a global audience as an NBA player achieved the opposite.
Dana White erupts over Shakur Stevenson blunder
White made no attempt to hide his frustration after the broadcast mistake.
“I just paid Shakur Stevenson a s***load of money,” White said during the UFC 329 post-fight press conference.
“And for some reason, we can’t figure this celebrity s*** out. They put him up as a f****** OKC NBA player. Are you f****** kidding me?”
Only moments earlier, White had praised his production team before turning his attention to the graphic.
“We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing,” he said.
White revealed staff had argued soccer broadcasts were worse because they often avoided celebrity graphics altogether.
“Oh no. We put up f****** graphics and put the wrong guy’s name on it. We win. We’re the worst ever to f****** do it.”
Stevenson signed a multi-fight agreement with Zuffa only days earlier, with White describing him as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing and a cornerstone of the promotion’s plans.
Zuffa still has to earn boxing’s trust
Backed by Turki Alalshikh, Sela and TKO, Zuffa entered boxing with financial strength that few new promotions could ever hope to match.
Winning over boxing fans is a different challenge.
Stevenson is exactly the type of signing capable of changing perceptions. Misidentifying him only days after unveiling him made Zuffa look unfamiliar with the very fighter chosen to lead its boxing project.
One broadcast graphic will not define whether Zuffa succeeds.
It will, however, reinforce the doubts of those already unconvinced that money alone can buy credibility in boxing.
Correctly identifying its biggest signing should have been the easy part.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
