“They Conveniently Leave Out That Part”: Mayweather Promotions’ CEO Leonard Ellerbe Highlights Startling Information on the Rehydration Clause Between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis, Months After Fight

The year 2023 was undoubtedly one of the best for boxing in recent memory. The calendar boasted some of the most anticipated and biggest bouts throughout the year, making it difficult for die-hard fans to handpick one particular fight. However, it cannot be denied; it is one of the openers that still finds a place in a myriad of discussions for one point or another.

The Gervonta Davis versus Ryan Garcia fight, ‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This,‘ was a statement in itself. In many ways, it laid out the format in which two big stars of the sport went against each other. Garcia lost the challenge to Davis. However, the ‘rehydration clause’ remained one of the apples of discord. It is still hotly debated. Recently, the topic saw Leonard Ellerbe jump in when a few followers seemingly pointed fingers at the rehydration clause and the catchweight.

Leonard Ellerbe has the last laugh

It all started when Leonard Ellerbe first replied to a boxing writer. The latter slammed those who criticized Ellerbe. The Mayweather Promotions CEO would put in check a few who were taunted with questions about certain fights. So when he asked, how is it going to benefit financially? They won’t have any response.

Leonard Ellerbe wrote, “Fred, a lot of people are clueless how BIG fights get made. They think because a fighter is popular on Twitter that they are big lol….” In response, a user charged back that to fans: it’s irrelevant whether a boxer is big or not or if he rakes in more moolah

All they want to see is a fighter like Gervonta Davis take on a really good boxer. Someone who fights at his level. Leonard Ellerbe further wrote, “Ryan Garcia is a top fighter; since the outcome wasn’t what most wanted, now he’s not a top fighter. GTFOH, some of you guys are really weird, lol.” But a user quickly highlighted that, if not struck by a rehydration clause and a catchweight restriction, Ryan Garcia stands out as a top-notch boxer.

However, another follower took a strong exception. They pointed out that ‘KingRy’ had already participated in a catchweight fight before the ‘Tank’ bout took place. The ‘Rehydration Clause’ was for the Baltimorean since he is much smaller in size. Lastly, Garcia had signed up for the contract.

When the argument continued, the same user laid it out in detail. The attached note mentioned that during the second-day weigh-in, both boxers stood below 146 pounds. The check was a closed-door one, taking place roughly ten hours before the bout. However, from the second-day weigh-in until the time they enter the ring, they have permission to put in extra weight. They wrote, “He had 10 hours after the second weigh-in to continue rehydrating! You just proved you don’t know wtf you’re talking about!”

On the Nevada State Athletic Commission‘s scale, while Davis weighed 144.1 lbs., Garcia stood around 144.9 lbs. Leonard Ellerbe couldn’t have agreed more with it. He said, “Lol, yeah, they [conveniently] leave out that part.”

On a side note, whenever a boxing match takes place, boxers step on the weighing scale to ensure they are meeting the requirements per the weight class. Now what the rehydration clause stipulates is that after the weigh-in, they are disallowed from stacking in more weight. Failing to do so might invite disqualification or some other consequences, such as financial censure. It’s a step taken to ensure fair play.

At the opposite corner

Though he cited feeling weak on account of losing weight, Ryan Garcia refused the clause as a reason for his defeat. He said, “I didn’t feel too good. I mean, I felt a little weak. You know, going into the ring, my legs didn’t feel too much under me, but once the fight got going, you know, it kind of all came together, so I can’t really put pin that too much you know, I mean, it is what it is. I signed the contract, and that’s that…”

After the fight, even Bernard Hopkins told DAZN, “I don’t think it affected him [Ryan Garcia] to the point where he couldn’t perform the way he did. I don’t think it affected him where he looked like a skeleton on the scales. I thought Ryan looked great; his skin still had moisture in it when I watched him.”

Read More: “It’s Gonna Be Good for Him”: Unlike Ryan Garcia, His Dad Doesn’t Think Rehydration Clause Will Effect Performance Against Gervonta Davis

Apart from the Ryan Garcia-Gervonta Davis bout, there was another example of the Canelo Alvarez–Daniel Jacobs bout of 2019. More so, even the now-off Chris Eubank Jr. versus Conor Benn was supposed to be fought under a rehydration clause. What’s your overall take on the argument? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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