The upcoming world title struggle between Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin has been embroiled in a back-and-forth over a rule change.
Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) will face Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) on June 15 on the MGM Grand Backyard Area in Las Vegas. Davis is a power-punching southpaw who is very rated throughout the board and a multi-weight world champion who has stopped most of his opponents by knockout, together with the likes of Leo Santa Cruz.
The matchup will headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view and can see Davis defend the title he was elevated to after undisputed champion Devin Haney vacated his 4 titles to maneuver as much as 140 kilos final 12 months.
Yesterday, a publish on X from Chris Mannix, a senior sports activities author and host on DAZN, instructed that there might be a rehydration clause mandated by the governing physique for the competition.
“WBA president Gilberto Mendoza confirms that there shall be a WBA-mandated rehydration clause within the Tank Davis-Frank Martin struggle. In a textual content message to @SInow, Mendoza says there shall be a 12-pound rehydration restrict that was “based mostly on current occasions.” Mendoza didn’t reply when requested if this was WBA coverage for all sanctioned fights.”
Davis has had rehydration clauses in place for fights earlier than, significantly towards Ryan Garcia whom he fought final April and defeated by way of bodyshop to retrain his light-weight world title. Garcia got here out afterwards and claimed that he was weight drained for the struggle which is the one motive he misplaced.
Garcia then abused the system himself by coming in additional than 3 lbs chubby to struggle Devin Haney, with Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn later popping out to confess he wished that they’d put a rehydration shut in place for that struggle.
The 29-year-old Baltimore Dais native has not fought since beating Garcia due to authorized points.
Nevertheless, after that publish by Mannix, revered boxing journalist Dan Rafael got here out to say that the truth is it was not taking place.
“Been requested this quite a bit previous couple days. Right here’s the reply: No, there isn’t any rehydration clause for #DavisMartin. WBA is planning to comply with IBF by requiring struggle morning weight test. However this struggle was already carried out and it received’t be a part of it. Attainable for future WBA title bouts.
“Chris precisely quoted Gilberto, who thought it was carried out. However committee accountable had not but notified Martin. So no second day weigh-in. Nothing nefarious.”
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