Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Frank Martin will be fighting under the WBA’s new rehydration rule next month on June 15th in their lightweight title.
This is reportedly a new rule for the World Boxing Association that will apply to all the weight classes involving their belts. Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is in favor of it, saying that it puts the “Weight bullies in check.”
WBA president Gilberto Mendoza confirms that there will be a WBA-mandated rehydration clause in the Tank Davis-Frank Martin fight. In a text message to @SInow, Mendoza says there will be a 12-pound rehydration limit that was “based on recent events.” Mendoza did not respond when…
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 16, 2024
Potential impact in the sport
With the IBF and WBA enforcing rehydration rules, the only organizations yet to implement the rule are the WBC and WBO. Once they decide to implement the same rule then you wont see fighters coming in at least 15 pounds heavier then the limit. You see fighters like Devin Haney and David Benavidez come in 15-20 pounds heavier on fight night. With a 10 pound limit for rehydration, that would cause fighters to move up in weight classes. There’s no way they’d would subject themselves to fees for violations of missing that weight. This is a great rule for boxing and a possible game changer.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
