BREAKING | Glove Size for Mayweather vs. McGregor Will Be 8oz Gloves

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor is a circus show with many rides and many moving pieces. The latest merry-go-round is the contested glove size. Originally, the glove size was set at 10oz because all boxing bouts contested at 154lbs wear that size. Floyd Mayweather, whose last six fights were fought wearing the smaller gloves, brought up the exception to box McGregor with 8 gloves on social media. There was a long debate on every aspect of the glove change. However, in the end the rules or previous boxing history didn’t matter. The commissioner of the NAC, even though he was pissed off about feeling this was the center of a ploy to garner sales, finally decided he would allow a one-time use of 8oz gloves.

Marnell: I do not like the NSAC being used as a pawn in a social media battle. It pisses me off.

— TheMacLife (@Maclifeofficial) August 16, 2017

Per his rep: McGregor has no objection to the gloves, no health/safety concerns.

— Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) August 16, 2017

“McGregor has been training nonstop since February while using 10oz gloves. We don’t believe there are any significant detriment to safety.  […] This started as a challenge on social media by Floyd Mayweather that perhaps this match be better contested with 8oz gloves. [..] Mr. McGregor is walking around at 160lbs and I anticipate right about that on actual fight day.” – The rep for Conor McGregor

Reps cite the fact fighters often step in the ring higher than 147-pounds after the weight cut anyway, so why not use the 8-oz here.

— TheMacLife (@Maclifeofficial) August 16, 2017

“The proposal is unique as the fight itself. […] It will help them give the best show and show their best talents. It is a long standing rule, sir. But obviously, this is a special event. […] Mr. Mayweather is used to using 8-oz gloves. He believes they are the best ones for him. To contest the bout and to defend himself with.” – the rep for Floyd Mahyweather

Carpenter: I feel comfortable with smaller gloves. Not worried about health. Referee will keep them safe, not glove size.

— TheMacLife (@Maclifeofficial) August 16, 2017

Commission saying the brand of gloves is important when considering lighter weight gloves and where the padding is.

— Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) August 16, 2017

You should listen to this hearing. They’re basically saying we have these rules, but there’s no real science to back them up, so who cares?

— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) August 16, 2017

The commission cautioned that lowering the glove size would favor the harder hitting fighter. A member of the commission also cited recent deaths in combat sports. There were even a conversation about a scientific study that never happened, trying to prove an advantage over one size or another. They didn’t want to change the rule to give precedence that would allow other boxing bouts to change gloves of a smaller size than their weight allows, but stressed that this type of “hybrid” clash of athletes is “unprecedented.”

The fact that McGregor always fought in 4oz gloves and that the ref is present to ensure safety seemed to be the big kicker in allowing Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather to fight in 8oz. But mainly, it was the magnitude of spectacle that allowed the decision to throw out a very long history of rules. The NAC basically said, f-ck it. It’s Mayweather vs. McGregor.

on 8/16/2017.