It’s a classic boxing standoff. The difference between his elite technical dominance and his business drawing power.
the present situation, Shakur’s rehydration clause demand could possibly be the hill the fight dies on.
In July 2025, he shut down the relentless William Zepeda to win a large 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” within the U.S.
This creates a distorted sense of bargaining power. Shakur likely feels that, as an undefeated, four-weight champion who just “humbled” Teofimo, he’s the one who needs to be dictating terms.
Shakur is a “safety-first” fighter, each within the ring and in business. He’s a natural lightweight moving up. Ryan Garcia is large for 140 and 147. With out a rehydration clause, Shakur risks entering the ring against a man who could outweigh him by 15–20 kilos on fight night.
In his mind, the rehydration clause isn’t a “demand”. For him, it’s a “fairness” measure to make sure he isn’t fighting a brilliant middleweight.
“Oh, obviously. 100%. He wants me to be on a rehydration clause where I can’t go as much as 157. You’re going to have to come back to me now,” said Ryan Garcia to Creators Think Podcast.
“I’ve beaten a slick fighter already, Devin Haney, longer, stronger, and faster than Shakur. He’s never faced a man as fast and with timing l myself.”
Ryan has something Shakur still lacks: massive mainstream popularity. Ryan knows that he’s the “money man.” His victory over Devin Haney proved he can beat the elite “slick” boxers, which provides him the arrogance to say, “When you want the life-changing payday I bring, you play by my rules.”
If Shakur continues to insist on a 157-pound cap, the fight likely doesn’t occur. Ryan has shown he’s perfectly pleased to fight other big names (and 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 simply accept the limit, 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 must turn into a real superstar.
