Nevada Commission Grants One-Time Exception for 8-Ounce Gloves in Mayweather-McGregor Bout

The Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to allow the use of eight-ounce boxing gloves in the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight.

Both fighters’ camps requested the change after initially agreeing to wear 10-ounce gloves for their Aug. 26 bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather and McGregor will square off at 154 pounds, where 10-ounce gloves are normally the standard in Nevada. However, during Tuesday’s meeting, NAC members agreed to allow a one-time exception for eight-ounce gloves given the unusual circumstances of the fight.

Eight-ounce gloves are usually utilized at bouts 135 pounds and below in Nevada, while bouts contested between 135 and 147 pounds can use either eight- or 10-ounce gloves depending on fighter preference. On Tuesday, the Association of Ringside Physicians cautioned “strongly against allowing current regulations to be overruled.”

However, the eight-ounce gloves and their alternates must be inspected and approved by NAC chairman Anthony Marnell and executive director Bob Bennett prior to their use. Additionally, the gloves must be submitted to the NAC after the bout to be used for a study on glove size.

Meanwhile, representatives for both Mayweather and McGregor said there were no safety concerns for either fighter accompanying the change in glove size. The Nevada commissioners were also in agreement that referee Robert Byrd would ultimately be in charge of preserving the athletes’ safety come fight night.

The issue of glove size became a hot topic when Mayweather and McGregor traded barbs regarding the subject via social media. It was then that both combatants informally agreed to use eight-ounce gloves in the fight. While the NAC generally had no issue with the change, Marnell wasn’t pleased with how things played out on social media.

“I do not like the Nevada State Athletic Commission being used as a pawn in a social media bout. Between these two, that part of this request pisses me off,” he said. “This body is not the subject of two fighters … to create social media stir and other controversy to sell tickets and to sell DirecTV.”