There are a lot of obvious difference between boxing and mixed martial arts, but one of the smaller ones, which has gotten a lot of attention in the lead up to the super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, is glove size. Boxers use bigger gloves than MMA fighters, and some have suggested that the extra weight on McGregor’s fists in August will put him at a significant disadvantage.
That’s why people were so shocked on Tuesday, when Mayweather put up a surprising Instagram post that suggested he’s willing to give up that advantage.
Unfortuantely, there’s a problem with this. As ESPN notes, the Nevada State Athletic Commission requires junior middleweight boxers to wear 10-ounce gloves.
“These regulations are in place for the health and safety of the athletes, which is of the utmost importance to the commission,” NSAC head Bob Bennett told ESPN. “Our regulations already outline the appropriate glove size according to contracted weight of a fight.”
Fact is, Mayweather knew this when he made the Instagram post. He’s spent most of his career as a welterweight, a weight class that allows fighters to use eight-ounce gloves. Contesting this bout with McGregor at 154 pounds was seen as a strategic play by Mayweather to ensure that McGregor’s gloves would be more than twice as heavy as what he’s used to.
So why act like he’s willing to go down to smaller glove when he knows it’s not possible. Perhaps it has something to do with this?