Antonio Tarver critical of rehydration clause used on Ryan Garcia to defeat him by Tank Davis

By Boxing News - 04/23/2023 - Comments

By Jake Tiernan: Antonio Tarver says Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis shouldn’t have used a rehydration clause to defeat Ryan Garcia last Saturday night because he felt that was overkill on his part to weaken his opponent so that he could win.

Tarver feels that Davis doesn’t need to use rehydration clauses & catchweight handicaps to win fights. Whoever from Gervonta’s promotional team that planted the idea into his head that he needed these handicaps to defeat Ryan Garcia did him a disservice.

It’s unclear if Tank Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) came up with the idea of the 10-lb rehydration clause & 136-lb catchweight to be used in tandem to drain Ryan (23-1, 19 KOs) or if it was his former promoters. Whoever came up with the idea, Tarver didn’t like it and felt a fighter of Tank Davis’ class didn’t have to stoop to the level of using them.

It’s difficult to imagine Gervonta coming up with the idea of using a rehydration clause against Tank. If it was his current for former promoters, he needs to show some backbone by rejecting their schemes to weaken his opponents.

“It could have been. Ten hours before the fight, you have a chance to first rehydrate after the weigh-in. That’s a lot of mental pressure, bro. I mean, the man made weight. Let’s fight,” said Antonio Tarver to Fight Hub TV when asked if the rehydration clause was ‘overkill’ on Gervonta Davis’ part in addition to the existing 136-lb catchweight handicap that the former Mayweather Promotions fighter used to gain an edge & weaken Ryan Garcia so that he could win.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Tank Davis’ win, but bro, stand on it. You don’t need to do that. You got too much talent. You’re too good for that. If the man makes weight, fight. That’s what we sign the contract for.

“So if you go in there and try and get an advantage, leverage, or any type of way, it’s just uncalled for. He’s more of a better talent than that. He’s a better fighter than that. So now Ryan can say that he was depleted. He has an excuse and a reason to say, ‘Let’s run it back.’

“So Gervonta Davis and his team did that. He could have took care of his business the first go round and it wouldn’t be nothing said. Moving on to the next, and I think he does that anyway because Ryan just didn’t seem to have any answers,” said Tarver.

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