On August 26th, Conor McGregor will face Floyd Mayweather at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In what is shaping up to be the most expensive fight in boxing or MMA history, many are predicting a poor performance from McGregor. However, if their social media is anything to go by, what we know is both fighters are gunning for a win.
Many will agree that McGregor is fighting an uphill battle. Mayweather has a flawless record of 49-0 and McGregor has never fought in a professional boxing match. Recent footage suggests that McGregor is up to the task. Showing all the qualities of what makes him so great in UFC, McGregor looks poised. But could a change of equipment put McGregor at a disadvantage?
Many aspects of the preparation for the fight will be the same for McGregor: diet, training and analyzing his opponent; a key difference will be the gloves he is wearing. Previously McGregor has fought and trained in the standard MMA gloves. With exposed fingers and around a centimetre of leather and padding protecting the fighter’s hands, these gloves are made for speed and are needed for incorporating grappling and holding into an MMA fight. McGregor has shown his dominance using them many times over. The lightness has allowed him to deliver quick and deadly blows, changing them could be a real test.
The gloves McGregor will be changing into are 10oz boxing gloves. Much heavier and more padded, boxing gloves provide protection and the ability to strike to the skull without breaking any bones in the hand.
A key aspect when comparing MMA and boxing gloves is the speed at which the fighters can hit. Mayweather, in choosing the 10oz gloves, and in the process making McGregor do the same, is seemingly attempting to eliminate McGregor’s ability to throw a knockout punch. Mayweather knows McGregor has the ability to deliver a KO at any time and by forcing him to don the 10oz gloves he attempting to muffle as much of McGregor’s punching power as possible. Mayweather knows McGregor is agile and difficult to hit but if you take away some of his striking ability it could be a game changer.
If you’re to read into the training videos coming from Camp McGregor, it looks like he is trying to overcome this and improve his technique. Trying to hit thrown playing cards and an emphasis on his movement are classic indications of going for a 12 round bout.
Either way the fight goes in Las Vegas the anticipation is huge. Mr Notorious will want to put on a show and down Mayweather proving his boxing credentials. Hopefully he will be able to, even with this potentially overlooked disadvantage.
