Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor: American formally requests to use lighter gloves

Floyd Mayweather has formally requested to use 8oz
gloves when he fights Conor McGregor in Las Vegas on
26 August.
The former five-weight world champion submitted a
necessary waiver to the Nevada Athletic Commission
(NAC) on Wednesday, hours before the deadline.
The NAC, which sanctioned the bout, told BBC Sport it
expected to receive a request from McGregor on
Wednesday.
NAC rules state fights at 154 lbs require 10oz gloves
and the matter will now be debated on 16 August.
Lighter gloves offer less cushioning for the hands but
theoretically lead to punches being more punishing.
Last week Mayweather posted an Instagram message
stating: "I'll be wearing 8oz Grant gloves."
But the undefeated fighter - who will come out of
retirement for the bout - had not submitted a necessary
waiver document at that stage. Instead, his team had
asked the authorities what the process of using lighter
gloves entailed.
At the time, NAC executive director Bob Bennett told
BBC Sport he had never seen a move to 8oz gloves at
154lbs before.
Rules state that 10oz gloves are used from 135lbs
upwards but bouts between 135lbs and 147lbs can use
8oz gloves if waivers are signed and the NAC feels the
move is justified.
"Even if they are both in agreement, our number one
policy is the health and safety of the fighters," said
Bennett. "To deviate from our regulations at a
difference of 7lbs would be for the chairman and
commissioners to determine."
During his UFC career, McGregor has used 4oz gloves
and he welcomed Mayweather's Instagram post last
week, stating: "I am coming sprinting at you with
bricks. Know that. Brittle hands."
The NAC will debate the matter publicly before
announcing its decision.
McGregor, 29, will make his boxing debut in what could
be the richest fight in history. The UFC lightweight
champion's move from the octagon to the ring to face
Mayweather, 40, has prompted criticism from major
boxing personalities such as Oscar De La Hoya and
Gennady Golovkin.
But Bennett says he studied a "litany of information"
on the Irishman before telling his chairman there were
"several reasons to approve the fight".
Bennett said that McGregor's UFC rival Nate Diaz
played a role in him forming his opinion.
"I spoke to Virgil Hunter, who trains many top fighters
and has worked with the likes of Andre Ward," said
Bennett. "He used Nate Diaz a dozen times for sparring
and said he rated him as an outstanding boxer.
"Then you put Nate in the ring with Conor and Conor
knocks him down with several shots. Add in that Conor
has a granite-like chin, add in that he's 12 years
younger than Floyd, and add in that he's taller and
longer.
"Floyd is probably one of the smartest fighters, he has
the art of getting in getting shots and getting out. But
he hasn't knocked anyone out in 10 years. Ricky Hatton
was probably the last one in 2007 because when he
KO'd Victor Ortiz in 2010, he wasn't defending himself.
"That in essence is it. There were several reasons to
approve this fight."
McGregor floored Diaz three times on his way to a
points win in August 2016, avenging a defeat via
submission five months earlier.
Since sanctioning the fight, Bennett has had access to
three videos showing McGregor's progress and told
BBC Sport: "He's good to go."
He also advised McGregor's camp to employ a boxing
referee in order to feel comfortable with the rules,
advice which led to the hiring of Hall of Fame official
Joe Cortez, 73.
Cortez said he oversaw an "out of control" sparring
session between McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi. The
former two-weight world champion has since left the
camp after reacting angrily to images of him on the
canvas during a sparring session.

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