To prove that someone is the best in the world of boxing, a fighter must step into the ring with excellent preparation to be ready for any situation that may arise, especially when entering as the challenger.
This appears to be something Shakur Stevenson has not fully understood, as he continues to keep the potential fight against Ryan Garcia hanging in uncertainty. In the bout that both sides are attempting to finalize, Stevenson seems determined for his opponent to accept all of his conditions, but Garcia has delivered a firm and categorical refusal.
The origin of the disagreement between Ryan Garcia and Shakur Stevenson
This entire dispute between the two pugilists began on social media, where nowadays it seems that if matters are not discussed publicly, they do not exist. Modern times often dictate that everything unfold in that arena, whether in sports, politics, or any other aspect of life.
Through those platforms, Stevenson accused Garcia of being a weight bully. Shakur argued that in any fight contested at 147 pounds, there must be a rehydration clause that limits Ryan’s weight on the night of the event.
The challenger suggested that Garcia could come into the fight weighing around 160 pounds, or that they could establish a fixed limit of 170 pounds. Garcia immediately rejected that proposal and made it clear that he would never accept such a 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.
Faced with this scenario, Garcia has pointed to the fight he had in 2023 against Gervonta Davis, in which weight stipulations were included that limited how much he could weigh on the night of the bout. Later, he stated that those conditions ended up affecting him and believed that the defeat may have come partly because of that situation.
Now that it appears the same type of demand is being placed in front of him once again, Garcia has issued a definitive refusal. In a social media post, he explained that any progress toward finalizing the fight will depend on eliminating the restrictions that Stevenson’s camp wants to impose.
As long as there’s no rehydration clause, things will be going forward.
These kinds of restrictions exist in boxing because between the official weigh-in and the night of the fight, fighters can gain a significant amount of weight that could benefit them inside the ring. That is precisely the point of tension currently holding up negotiations.
For now, the disagreement remains unresolved and continues to cloud what many fans believe could become one of the most exciting bouts in recent years. Both fighters have the talent and popularity to create a major event, but unless the contractual terms are settled, the fight will remain uncertain, and the anticipation surrounding it will continue to grow without a definitive answer about whether it will actually take place.
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