Haney’s Potential Loophole: Avoiding The IBF’s 10-lb Rehydration Limit

Devin Haney may be able to swerve the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit if his match against IBF light welterweight champion Liam Paro gets made for December 7th.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Haney’s status as WBC ‘Champion in Recess’ means a fight against IBF belt-holder Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) would be a “unification” without 10-lb rehydration.

Champion in Recess Status: A Way Out?

Without that loophole, Haney’s chances of meeting the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration rule would be next to impossible, given that he’s rehydrating to the mid-160s after weighing in at 140.

That’s an absurd amount of weight for a fighter to rehydrate to for any division, and that’s why Haney must circumvent the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration rule.

There’s no way on earth Devin would be able to withhold fluids overnight after weighing in on the Friday before the fight to come in no higher than 150 lbs on the morning of fight day. He would be risking his health to attempt that.

Haney would look sickly if he had to keep from rehydrating fully after weighing in. True light welterweights like Paro would have no problems with the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration, but not guys that should be fighting at junior middleweight, like Haney.

As much weight as Haney puts on after weighing in, he should be up there with 154-pounders like Sebastian Fundora, Vergil Ortiz, and Terence Crawford. It’s understandable why Haney doesn’t choose to compete in that division because life would be hard for him fighting those killers.

“It’s a fight Devin thinks he can win. He’s in recess with the WBO, so it’s a unification/regaining a title [fight],” Eddie Hearn said to Boxingscene.

Unification or Not?

The WBC has already elevated Alberto Puello to the 140-lb champion throne, and Haney being the ‘Champion in Recess’ may not count it as a unification fight.

You have to hold the full title for it to count as unification. All the ‘Champion in Recess’ tag means is that an ex-champion can return at some point and immediately challenge the existing WBC champion for their old belt. It doesn’t mean they can use the WBC Champion in Recess for unification fights against other champs. If the WBC allows that, they would essentially have created another title.

If Haney can avoid the IBF’s rehydration rule for the Paro fight, he’ll be in good shape to unseat the new 140-lb champion potentially. Paro is still a dangerous fight for Haney because this guy can punch with either hand, and he’s got the southpaw style that pptentially give Haney issues.