“Why’s everybody mad? We have to weigh-in the same weight and come into the fight at the same weight? What the f*** is the problem?” – Gervonta “Tank” Davis
Davis has a point. Weight classes are designed to ensure fair competition between two boxers who may have different physical advantages such as height and reach. Therefore, boxers should have to weigh the same the night before the match. If weight parity generally promotes fair competition, then boxers should also have to rehydrate to the same or substantially similar weight on the day of their match. Failure to comply with this rehydration limitation could turn into a million-dollar fine or disqualification from the competition.
Rehydration limitations are not particularly problematic from a regulatory or business standpoint. Sanctioning bodies like the International Boxing Federation have inherent authority not only to adopt and enforce second-day weigh-in rules but also to waive them upon the boxers’ mutual agreement. Boxers can also privately stipulate to rehydration clauses, as long as they are aware of the terms of the agreement. If a commercially viable fighter wants to restrict their competitor from gaining a couple of pounds for a competitive advantage, the money just needs to be right. This allows boxers like Tank to turn small weight differences into big advantages in the name of “fairness.”
Yet, the problem with negotiated weight limitations such as rehydration clauses comes up when great boxers like Errol Spence (when facing great boxers like Terrence Crawford) perform poorly because they couldn’t saturate their bodies enough after relying on excessive dehydration to make weight. (To be clear, Spence v. Crawford did not feature a rehydration clause, but the match sparked the same concerns over “unfair” performance impairments like persistent dehydration due to weight and rehydration limitations.) Or when an exciting fight between two stars in different divisions falls through because the parties can’t agree on a rehydration limit. That disagreement often stems from a difference of several pounds. Those several pounds, however, can destroy the makings of a good fight.
As a result, many fight fans have questioned why rehydration limitations should prevent competitive fights from materializing as they imagined, especially in the era of multi-division undisputed champions and hotly debated pound-for-pound lists. Many have also accused stars who are known for negotiating rehydration restrictions like Tank, Haney, and Canelo for hamstringing their opponents using contractual terms, business strategy, and money, rather than strictly relying on their skill and talent in the ring.
Conor McGregor has voiced similar concerns when commenting on the merits of Tank’s victory over Ryan Garcia in light of the negotiated rehydration limitation. McGregor has stated that he believes “it wasn’t the body shot that dropped [Garcia] instantly. [Garcia] took it, he went back, he thought about it, and then went down. It wasn’t a shot that ended him. It was a shot over time. If he was allowed to rehydrate, that may have been different.”
Despite the concerns associated with rehydration limitations, there are a few good reasons why rehydration clauses should not be entirely shunned. For example, the sport involves repetitive blows to the head (and body). Those blows will take a toll on a boxer’s health over the course of a match and lifetime. If one boxer, usually the smaller one, secures a rehydration limit capping their and their opponent’s weight on fight night, the boxer can reduce his or her risk of traumatic brain injury or neurological degradation during the course of their match and ultimately their career. Granted, this benefit comes at the cost of their opponent’s health, since even mild dehydration increases the risk of brain damage. Yet, their opponent could just take the proper precautions in the months and weeks leading up to the match to mitigate their risk of dehydration on fight night.
Rehydration limitations also de-emphasize the importance of weight and highlight other factors to the fight game such as height, reach, physique, athleticism, reflexes, and acumen. These other factors form the basis for greatness in the sport. Winning with weight, on the other hand, can lead to more questions than answers.
Of course, rehydration limitations can lead to similar questions regarding the merits of a boxer’s victory over their weight-drained opponent. For example, when Tank beat Garcia, many discredited the win because of the artificial limitation placed on Garcia’s weight. However, all sports have artificial limitations. The real issue is which are worth protecting. Since rehydration clauses equalize weight between competitors while also improving boxer safety and enhancing the value of the competition, they deserve a place in the sport.
Straight to Boxing 