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Conor McGregor has his gloves tied during a workout in preparation for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Photo: USA Today Sports

Conor McGregor predicts quick knockout with lighter gloves sanctioned for Floyd Mayweather fight

Nevada State Athletic Commission approve request to wear eight-ounce gloves rather than 10-ounce ones for the August 26 showdown in Las Vegas

Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is happy about the switch to lighter gloves for his August 26 fight against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr and says his opponent will now struggle to make it past the second round.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission, just 10 days before the hotly anticipated Las Vegas fight, approved requests from Mayweather and McGregor to wear eight-ounce gloves rather than 10-ounce ones.

“That was a good thing for me. I’m very happy with it,” McGregor said.

Mayweather had nearly all of his 49 professional wins using eight-ounce gloves, which may accentuate one of his advantages – his hand speed.

McGregor preferred the lighter gloves since he is used to the fingerless, four-ounce gloves typically worn in MMA.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr enjoyed some verbal clashes with UFC fighter Conor McGregor on their promotional tour. Photo: AFP

“That’s it in a nutshell, you’ve got pros and cons on both sides,” he said. “Favours us both in certain ways.

“I believe now that the gloves are eight ounces, I don’t believe he makes it out of the second round,” McGregor added.

“Part of me ... kind of wants to show some skills and dismantle him that way. [But] I do not foresee him absorbing the blows in the first two rounds.”

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While most pundits have McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, as a heavy underdog, the Dubliner said he was determined to prove the doubters wrong.

“I’m just looking forward to August 26, going in and proving what I’m saying and educating the world on what martial arts is,” he said. “And earning my respect in this game also.”

Floyd Mayweather Jnr believes lighter gloves will favour him. Photo: AFP

The Irishman said his gruelling preparations for the fight would enable him to triumph no matter how the fight develops.

“There is no way in hell that I am not ready to fight in the deepest of trenches in this contest,” McGregor added.

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“The training sessions and the practice that we’ve been putting in has been through hell and back. We are ready for absolutely every scenario.

“I’m ready to go to war for the full 12 rounds and I am ready to put him away in the first 10 seconds. That’s where my head’s at.”

Conor McGregor is set to break box-office records with Floyd Mayweather. Photo: AFP

Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, predicted the fight could even threaten the reported US$600 million haul from the Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao 2015 showdown.

“This is the biggest event ever in combat sports history. This is the most distributed event in pay-per-view history,” White said, also citing the additional digital reach.

“This thing is in like 200 countries on pay-per-view. Boxing doesn’t usually do a lot of digital.

“If you’re in Manhattan or on a desert island somewhere, if you have Wi-fi you can buy this fight.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Lighter gloves give me advantage, McGregor crows
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