Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor criticised for using glove debate to build hype ahead of fight

Special ruling: Conor McGregor will fight Floyd Mayweather in 8oz gloves
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Jonathan Hunn17 August 2017

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor have been criticised for using the issue over which size gloves to use for their fight later this month to hype their contest.

Mayweather, whose record stands at 49-0 but who has not fought since retiring two years ago, will face UFC world champion McGregor, who will be making his first professional appearance in a boxing ring, in Las Vegas in nine days’ time.

The pair have been given special dispensation from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to use 8oz gloves for the fight.

NSAC rules dictate that 10z gloves are used for fights over 147lbs, although 29-year-old Irishman McGregor has used 4oz gloves throughout his mixed martial arts career.

SAC chairman Anthony Marnell said he was comfortable with Mayweather, 40, and McGregor using the smaller gloves but was unhappy that the fighters were using the issue to sell the fight on social media. “I do not like the Nevada State Athletic Commission being used as a pawn in a social media battle,” said Marnell.

Commissioners said they struggled with making an exception to regulations in place since 2006, but decided to approve the waiver because of the unusual nature of the event.

Meanwhile, veteran official Robert Byrd has been appointed to referee the bout — a decision that Marnell was far happier with for a match up he described as “unique”. “The No. 1 line of defence is the referee,” he said. “It always will be.”

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