Ryan Garcia Rejects Rehydration Clause Demand From Shakur Stevenson

Garcia says he will never agree to another rehydration clause after his fight with Gervonta Davis

Ryan Garcia says a fight with Shakur Stevenson will not happen if it requires a rehydration clause. The former lightweight title challenger rejected the condition after Stevenson demanded the restriction for a possible welterweight bout.

Unless Shakur changes that stance, the fight likely stops there. Ryan is coming off a major win and carries far greater commercial pull, giving him little incentive to accept a condition he has already rejected.

The disagreement grew from a social media exchange after Stevenson accused Garcia of being a “weight bully.” Stevenson argued that any fight at 147 pounds should include a rehydration clause limiting how much Ryan could weigh on fight night.

Shakur suggested Garcia could otherwise enter the ring weighing in the high 160s or even around 170 pounds if no restriction existed.

Ryan rejected the idea immediately and said he will not agree to that condition.

“I will never be on a rehydration clause again, and I don’t need 20-30 pounds to beat you,” Garcia wrote on X. “I’ll beat your ass straight up.”

Ryan traces his position to his 2023 fight with Gervonta Davis, which included weight stipulations that limited how much he could weigh on fight night. Garcia later said the restriction affected him and believes it played a role in the defeat.

The experience is one reason he has resisted agreeing to similar contract terms in future negotiations.

The issue has appeared in Ryan’s recent posts as well. In February, he indicated that any talks about fighting Shakur would depend on avoiding those restrictions.

“As long as there’s no rehydration clause things will be going forward,” Garcia wrote.

Rehydration clauses sometimes appear in boxing contracts to limit how much weight a fighter can gain between the official weigh-in and fight night. Supporters say the rule prevents a fighter from entering the ring far heavier than the contracted division. Critics argue the restriction can leave fighters drained the next day.

The condition has appeared in several high-profile fights in recent years, particularly when opponents from different weight classes agree to meet at a catchweight.

For now, Ryan’s refusal leaves the proposed matchup dependent on whether Stevenson is willing to abandon the demand.

Without that change, the disagreement over contract terms could block serious negotiations between the two fighters despite the ongoing public back-and-forth.