Shakur Stevenson open to Ryan Garcia fight at 140 without rehydration clause

Stevenson says he will not demand a rehydration clause if Garcia agrees to fight at 140 pounds

Shakur Stevenson says he is willing to fight Ryan Garcia at 140 pounds. The former champion said he would not require a rehydration clause.

Stevenson said he would welcome a fight with Ryan at light welterweight and is prepared to take him at his word that he can make the division limit again.

“I don’t even want to do the rehydration clause,” Stevenson said during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast. “He went in an interview and said he would fight me at 140 pounds. We don’t know what he could do.”

Ryan has previously said he could return to 140 if he committed fully to the weight cut, something Shakur referenced repeatedly when asked whether that drop would be realistic.

“He said he would fight me at 140. I’m just going off his words,” Stevenson said. “If he says it, what am I supposed to do?”

The hosts noted that Ryan’s rehydrated weight has often been reported around the high-160s or near 170 pounds. Cutting down to 140 again could leave him significantly depleted by fight night.

Shakur did not argue against that possibility. Instead, he continued to point back to Garcia’s own statements about being able to make the weight.

“We can’t assume he can’t make 140,” Stevenson said. “He said he can as long as he locks in and takes it serious.”

Shakur added that a small catchweight could also be considered if the two sides moved forward with negotiations.

“If he wants to fight at 140 or we can do a catchweight at 144 pounds,” Stevenson said about being willing to fight Ryan at a catchweight.

Garcia has already struggled with the limit before. In his 2024 bout against Devin Haney, Ryan missed the light welterweight cap by several pounds at the weigh-in, but the fight proceeded anyway.

That history is why the weight discussion became a major part of the exchange. While Shakur portrayed the absence of a rehydration clause as a concession, the hosts noted that the 140-pound requirement alone could create a difficult situation for Ryan if he attempted to return to the division.

Shakur’s answer stayed consistent throughout the conversation. Ryan has already said he can make the weight, and Shakur said he is prepared to hold him to that statement.

“He said he could do it,” Shakur said. “So we can fight at 140.”