This is a classic boxing match. The difference between its elite technical dominance and its commercial traction.
Looking at the current situation, Shakur’s rehydration clause claim could be the hill on which the fight dies.
In July 2025, he shut down the ruthless William Zepeda to win a wide 12-round decision. These two wins solidified Stevenson as a P4P king, but because they were funded by the deep pockets of Saudi organizers, the purses didn’t necessarily reflect his actual PPV “buy rate” in the US.
This creates a distorted sense of bargaining power. Shakur probably feels that, as an undefeated four-weight champion who just “humiliated” Teofimo, he’s the one to dictate terms.
Shakur is a “safety first” fighter, both in the ring and in business. He is a natural lightweight moving up. Ryan Garcia is big for 140 and 147. Without a rehydration clause, Shakur risks stepping into the ring against a guy who could outweigh him by 15–20 pounds on fight night.
In his mind, the rehydration clause is not a “demand”. For him, it’s a “fairness” measure to ensure he doesn’t fight a super middleweight.
“Oh, for sure. 100%. He wants me on a rehydration clause where I can’t go to 157. You’re going to have to come to me now,” Ryan Garcia told Creators Think Podcast.
“I’ve beaten a smooth fighter, Devin Haney, taller, stronger and faster than Shakur. He’s never faced a guy as quick and with timing as myself.”
Ryan has something Shakur still lacks: massive mainstream popularity. Ryan knows that he is the “money man”. His victory over Devin Haney proved that he can beat the elite “smooth” boxers, giving him the confidence to say, “If you want the life-changing payday that I bring, you play by my rules.”
If Shakur continues to push for a 157-pound cap, the fight likely won’t happen. Ryan has shown he’s perfectly happy to fight other big names (or even MMA stars) who won’t put “handcuffs” on his size.
Unless the Riyadh season organizers step in with an astronomical sum that forces Ryan to accept the cap, Shakur may find himself “too good for his own good.” He’ll be stuck with belts and money, but without the career-defining mega-fight he needs to become a true superstar.
