By Keith Idec
The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to allow Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor to wear eight-ounce gloves in their August 26 boxing match in Las Vegas.
The vote for this one-time approval was taken during the NSAC’s regularly scheduled meeting in Las Vegas. The NSAC determined that wearing smaller gloves that have less padding poses no significantly greater threat to the health and safety of Mayweather and McGregor, a UFC superstar who’ll make his professional boxing debut.
Mayweather’s handlers petitioned the NSAC recently to use eight-ounce gloves because the boxing legend is willing to use the lighter gloves McGregor claimed Mayweather refused to wear during negotiations.
In accordance with Association of Boxing Commissions regulations, boxers who compete above the welterweight limit of 147 pounds are required to wear 10-ounce gloves. In bouts contested at or below the welterweight limit, ABC rules require boxers to wear eight-ounce gloves.
The weight limit for the 12-round bout between Las Vegas’ Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) and Ireland’s McGregor (21-3, 18 KOs in MMA) is boxing’s junior middleweight maximum of 154 pounds.
Representatives for Mayweather and McGregor agreed to use comparable gloves, but a brand was not mentioned during the meeting. They did state that they would not use what are considered “puncher’s gloves,” which would give McGregor more of an advantage.
Neither Mayweather nor McGregor attended the NSAC meeting Wednesday, but attorneys for both boxers accepted any additional liability that could come with using eight-ounce gloves in this Showtime Pay-Per-View main event.
The 40-year-old Mayweather mostly has fought with eight-ounce gloves during his 20-year pro career, but has used 10-ounce gloves for his three fights contested above 147 pounds (Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez). The 29-year-old McGregor is used to fighting in four-ounce gloves, the standard for professional mixed martial arts matches.
McGregor has predicted that wearing eight-ounce gloves will enable him to knock out Mayweather within two rounds.
2023-10-19 05:12:53
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