“What the F*** Is the Problem?”- Gervonta Davis Comes Clean on Rehydration Clause in Frank Martin Fight

Gervonta Davis always finds himself embroiled in a rehydration clause debate. The rumor mill is churning out rumors that the American boxer will defend his WBA lightweight strap against Frank Martin under the WBA’s new rehydration clause on June 15. But how much truth do these speculations hold? Is it something the champion forced upon the challenger?

Notably, on similar lines as the IBF, the WBA has decided to put a 12-pound rehydration limit on the championship fights. Some fans have already criticized ‘Tank’ for taking cover behind a rehydration clause to gain an advantage over his opponents. He also infamously drew flak for forcing a rehydration clause against Ryan Garcia last year. But Davis has tried to clean the air around the rehydration clause fiasco.

The 29-year-old clarified that he wasn’t aware of the new clause until it became the talk of the internet. However, he also questioned how both fighters coming into the fight at the same weight was a “problem”. Davis said, “I didn’t know about this s*** until yesterday on Twitter. But 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?”

The Baltimore native had also previously vented out his frustration as he shunned the accusations of influencing and swaying the sanctioning body to put such a clause in place. He had asked, “y’all telling me I have enough power to tell the wba what to do?” Moreover, there have been questions about whether Davis vs. Martin would indeed be fought under the new rule. Dan Rafael has come to the fans’ rescue.

Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin: Clause or no clause?

Dan Rafael turned to his X handle and clarified that Davis vs. Martin would not feature the WBA’s newly introduced clause. The sanctioning body might enforce the fight-day morning weight checks in future fights. But it has decided to put it on hold for Davis vs. Martin, as the fight was already in the works. He wrote, “No, there is no rehydration clause for #DavisMartin. WBA is planning to follow IBF by requiring fight morning weight check.”

While there is still some tussle over the WBA’s rehydration clause, Leonard Ellerbe believes it would put weight bullies “in check.” The likes of Devin Haney and David Benavidez have been blasted in the past for bulking up enormously just before the fight and utilizing a size advantage against their opponents. It remains to be seen when the WBA will enforce this clause.

What do you make of these comments by Gervonta Davis? Do you believe the WBA’s new rehydration clause would level the playing field for fighters? Let us know in the comments below.