What Is The Rehydration Clause In Boxing?

A rehydration clause in boxing refers to a stipulation in a fighter’s contract that limits the amount of weight they can gain after the official weigh-in and before the actual fight. This clause is designed to ensure that fighters do not excessively dehydrate themselves to make weight and then rapidly rehydrate, which could provide a significant advantage by increasing their size and strength before stepping into the ring.

Typically, fighters are required to rehydrate within a certain weight range, often 10-15 pounds, to promote fairness and safety. The goal is to prevent fighters from gaining an unhealthy amount of weight in a short period, which could increase the risk of injury or health complications. Rehydration clauses have gained attention in recent years as weight manipulation and extreme cutting practices in boxing have raised concerns about fighter safety.

In the upcoming belt between Connor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr, there has been mention of a hydration clause added to the contract. The size difference between them is quite significant so it’s a way of keeping their agreed fighting weight in place. However, it has been known that fighters have dropped such a huge amount of weight for their weigh-in that they have felt drained in their fight.

What is the difference between the rehydration clause in boxing and in ONE Championship?

ONE Championship, a major mixed martial arts organization, implements a strict rehydration clause which is different to boxing as its for the fighter safety rather than preventing a heavier advantage. The ONE rehydration clause is tested through urine samples and is designed to prevent extreme weight cutting practices, ensuring fighters don’t excessively dehydrate themselves to make weight, while risking not having enough time to rehydrate before the fight.

This clause typically limits the amount of weight a fighter can gain after the official weigh-in, with a common restriction being a 10% weight increase from the official weigh-in weight. For example, if a fighter weighs in at 155 pounds, they cannot exceed 170.5 pounds on the day of the fight. The goal of the rehydration clause is to promote safety and fairness by reducing the risks associated with rapid weight fluctuations, which can negatively impact a fighter’s health and performance.

This approach is part of One Championship’s broader efforts to prioritize athlete well-being and clean, competitive contests.

All athletes are required to undergo a combined weigh-in and hydration assessment within 24 to 48 hours prior to the event.
Hydration levels will be evaluated through a urine specific gravity test, where each athlete will provide a urine sample under the supervision of a medical technician.
A doctor affiliated with ONE will analyze the urine sample using a refractometer to confirm that the athlete is adequately hydrated (adequate hydration is defined as a urine specific gravity of ≤1.0250).
The athlete’s weight must fall within the designated weight class or the limits set for catchweights. Upon passing the hydration test, the athlete must proceed to weigh in immediately. Conversely, if the athlete does not pass the hydration test, they will be prohibited from officially weighing in until they successfully meet the hydration criteria.
If the athlete successfully passes both the hydration test and the weight requirement, they will be authorized to compete in their respective weight class. Should the athlete pass the hydration test but fail to meet the weight requirement, they are allowed to attempt to make weight again within the designated weigh-in time frame. However, it is essential that the athlete passes both the hydration test and the weight requirement on any subsequent attempts within the specified time window.
In the event that the athlete does not pass the hydration test and/or fails to make weight during the allocated 3-hour time frame, they will have the opportunity to submit a hydration sample outside of this window and subsequently weigh in.
Following this, a catchweight can be negotiated, provided that both athletes are within 105 percent of the opponent’s officially hydrated weight. Additionally, if a catchweight agreement is reached, the athlete will forfeit a percentage of their purse to the opponent.

Conclusion

That said, it is safe to say that there is a bit of difference between boxing and ONE when it comes to rehydration clause. ONE’s Hydration policy focuses on the safety of the fighters. Whereas boxing seems to focus on the individuals weight.