Nevada commission (surprisingly) approves 8-ounce gloves for Mayweather vs. McGregor

The Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to grant a request from Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor’s camps to allow eight-ounce gloves to be used for “The Money Fight.”

Commissioners agreed to the change – a break from its longstanding rule that requires 10-ounce gloves be used for fights contested at 154 pounds – as a one-time exception.

Three stipulations were also added to the approval: The eight-ounce gloves and their alternate must be inspected and approved by NSAC Chairman Anthony Marnell and executive director Bob Bennett; the gloves must be submitted to the NSAC after the fight; and those gloves be used for a study on glove size conducted by the NSAC.

“The Money Fight” takes place Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The NSAC regulates the pay-per-view event.

Longtime NSAC commissioner Raymond “Skip” Avansino, who raised the initial motion for approval, noted a study had been ordered in 2006 after a safety committee had determined a standardized set of weights and glove sizes. But the study had never been completed.

“That’s the rule for at least 11 years,” Avansino said. “However, rules need to be reconsidered from time to time.”

Avansino indicated the unique circumstances of the bout warranted the approval – despite his reluctance to change the rules.

Marnell offered a token of objection by noting the request had come out of a social media battle between Mayweather (49-0 boxing) and McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), forcing the commission to address the issue after the two agreed to fight at 154 pounds.

“Frankly, that part of it, it pisses me off,” Marnell said.

But several commissioners ultimately decided that the bout’s referee, veteran official Robert Byrd, will be the ultimate gatekeeper of the fighters’ health and safety. They expressed confidence that if one fighter is not fighting to his best abilities, the bout will be stopped quickly.

“We always pride ourselves on stopping the fight one punch too soon, rather than one punch too late,” Marnell said.

Reps for Mayweather and McGregor testified before the ruling that there were no health and safety concerns from the fighters. UFC attorney Hunter Campbell said they have agreed to wear American-style gloves that distribute the gloves’ padding to the fists rather than the “punchers-style” horsehair gloves made in Mexico.

For more on “The Money Fight: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor,” check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.