THE NEVADA STATE Athletic Commission have this evening confirmed that they have granted Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor to box in 8oz gloves as opposed to the conventional 10 when they trade leather on 26 August.
NSAC will be employing what they describe as a “one-fight exception” for next weekend’s bout between combat sport’s two money men.
The commission’s rules usually dictate that any fight in boxing’s light-middleweight division (154lbs) requires both fighters to wear 10oz gloves, but the 49-0 boxer and two-weight UFC champion will now instead throw down using the lighter, more impactful variant.
In the state of Nevada, all boxing matches below super-featherweight (130lbs) see fighters lace up 8oz mitts, and while everything above light-middleweight demands 10z, 8oz can be worn at lightweight (135), light-welterweight (140) and welterweight (147) should both fighters agree to it.
As such, Mayweather has previous in fighting in 8oz gloves below the light-middleweight division, versus future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley and the big-hitting Argentine Marcos Maidana at welterweight, as well as Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez at a catchweight between light-welter and welter (which Mayweather subsequently broke).
McGregor, meanwhile, wears 4oz gloves in the UFC.
On Saturday week, both fighters must wear the same brand of glove and have their gloves vigorously inspected, per Nevada State conditions.
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett, who once falsely claimed McGregor was a former “All-Ireland boxing champion” when justifying his granting of permission for the fight to take place in Las Vegas, was initially against the change in ruling.
“These regulations are in place for the health and safety of the athletes, which is of the utmost importance to the commission,” he said earlier this month.
“Our regulations already outline the appropriate glove size according to contracted weight of a fight.”
Five days ago, however, he suggested the topic would be revisited. It was this evening, and NSAC have subsequently changed their mind on the issue.
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