Floyd & Conor can use smaller gloves
LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor got their wish to fight in smaller gloves, but not before being chastised by a Nevada boxing official for using the issue to hype their fight later this month.
Nevada boxing regulators on Wednesday gave the two fighters an exemption to a rule requiring 10-ounce gloves for fights at 154 pounds, approving 8-ounce gloves for the Aug. 26 bout.
Commissioners also approved veteran referee Robert Byrd as the third man in the ring for the fight.
Commission Chairman Anthony Marnell said he was comfortable with the fighters using smaller gloves, but unhappy they used the issue to sell the fight on social media.
“I do not like the Nevada State Athletic Commission being used as a pawn in a social media battle,” Marnell said.
Under Nevada regulations, 10-ounce gloves are required in fights above 147 pounds and the bout is set for 154 pounds. But Mayweather has worn 8-ounce gloves most of his career, and McGregor has worn 4-ounce gloves in his UFC fights.
Mayweather’s promoter, Leonard Ellerbe, said his fighter is more comfortable in smaller gloves and would use them to stop McGregor.
“The fight is going to end in a knockout, I’m very confident,” Ellerbe said. “And it will probably be early.”
McGregor will be in a boxing ring for the first time as a pro when he takes on Mayweather, who is coming out of retirement for a fight that will make him tens of millions of dollars. They will fight under boxing rules, which will be enforced by Byrd, a veteran referee.
Commissioners also approved Burt Clements and Dave Moretti of the United States and Italy’s Guido Cavalleri as judges for the bout. McGregor’s camp had asked for an international judge among the three.
The glove issue took up much of the commission meeting, though in the end all voted in favor of the smaller gloves. There was also discussion about the padding in the gloves, with both sides agreeing to be bound by Nevada boxing inspectors approving the foam padding. —AP REUTERS