In what could be one of the most significant moves in boxing this year, UFC CEO Dana White is reportedly closing in on signing Shakur Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing—a power play that would add a top-three pound-for-pound talent to the promotion's growing roster.

The 27-year-old American, who boasts an unblemished 25-fight record, captured both the WBO and The Ring junior welterweight titles earlier this year with a masterful victory over Teofimo Lopez. Now, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, Stevenson is in the final stages of agreeing to a contract with Zuffa Boxing, the promotion White launched to bridge the gap between MMA and traditional boxing.

This move continues a trend that began in January, when White brought Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia into the fold. Opetaia quickly became Zuffa Boxing's first champion, and since then, a steady stream of top-tier fighters have followed. But Stevenson represents a different level of star power—a young, undefeated champion who could become the face of the promotion.

The signing would also create intriguing possibilities for a potential showdown with Conor Benn, who has been White's most high-profile acquisition to date. Benn, who stepped into the ring after Stevenson's win over Lopez in January, has already expressed willingness to move up a weight class to challenge the new champion. While Benn has his sights set on a fight with Ryan Garcia, adding Stevenson to the mix gives White a wealth of high-stakes options for the Brit's next opponent.

Interestingly, Stevenson has been operating under a fight-by-fight arrangement with veteran promoter Lou DiBella rather than a long-term contract, a detail that may have made him an easier target for White's aggressive recruitment. If the deal goes through, it would mark a major coup for Zuffa Boxing and send a clear message that White is serious about reshaping the boxing landscape—one superstar at a time.