NAC to vote on 8 oz. glove use for Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor

When it was first agreed upon, Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor‘s blockbuster boxing match was supposed to be contested in 10 oz. gloves. From the sounds of it, however, that could change.

After receiving criticism for demanding the use of 10 oz. gloves, which could well dampen the power of McGregor’s punches, Mayweather attempted to silence his critics by challenging McGregor to box in 8 oz gloves. McGregor then responded that he was all for it, and now, the wheels seem to be in motion.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Nevada Athletic Commission director Bob Bennet explained that this issue will be voted on at the commission’s next meeting.

“Mayweather’s team has, and McGregor’s team [is] in the process [of submitting a request],” Bennett said (h/t BoxingScene). “It will be heard at the commission’s next meeting.”

“They come before the commission [and] each party can discuss their reasoning,” Bennett continued “The chairman and commissioners openly discuss the request and vote on it. Our regulations require 10-ounce gloves, but I won’t say that there’s no negotiations.

“The promoters have a legal opportunity to submit a waiver, then appear before our commission to articulate why they think we should make an exception to our regulations. This is an anomaly. I haven’t experienced this in over three years on the job. I checked with the previous executive director, Hall-of-Famer Marc Ratner, and our program officer, who has been here for 30 years. To the best of their recollection, we have never had a request like this.”

When we last saw Conor McGregor in the Octagon, he authored an artful knockout of Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC lightweight title. Given that he still owned the UFC featherweight title at that time, this made him the first fighter in promotional history to hold titles in two weight classes concurrently. He is 21-3 as a pro mixed martial artist, and 0-0 as a pro boxer.

Floyd Mayweather, meanwhile, is a perfect 49-0 as a pro boxer. After his last fight, a 2015 decision defeat of Andre Berto, the boxing legend elected to hang up the gloves. Yet this lucrative crossover fight with McGregor was apparently enough to pull him back to the ring.

Do you think Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather should box in 10 or 8 oz. gloves?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/10/2017.