In a stunning move announced yesterday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission agreed to terms (supposedly from camps representing both Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.) to lower the weight of the gloves which will be used in next weekend's so-called megafight.
Under normal rules set by the NSAC, any boxing match between fighters over 154 lbs. requires boxers wear 10-oz. gloves. According to a statement released yesterday, that is not the case for this particular fight. Instead, both McGregor and Mayweather will wear 8-oz. gloves.
What does that mean for both fighters? I've chatted about this with people representing boxing and the MMA communities and they're all in agreement that the dropping of 2 ounces in size does potentially increase power and speed. And they're also in agreement that it's an advantage for McGregor, who regularly fights wearing 4-oz. gloves that are designed for that particular style of fight.
Why the change? That's the question, particularly at this late stage of things, with the fight scheduled for August 26.
Speaking of stunning...
The National Football League and the NFL Players Association are engaged in a war of words over the suspension of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Shortly after the league announced details of the appeal hearing scheduled for later this month, the league then released a statement accusing the players association of launching a victim-shaming campaign to discredit Tiffany Thompson, the woman who accused Elliot of sexual assault.
The players association countered back shortly thereafter, with a stinging reply calling out the league's comment as "stooping to new lows."
In the midst of all this back-and-forth, we've heard little from the front office of the Dallas Cowboys. Normally unreserved and certainly not shy in expressing his opinion, newly minted Hall of Fame owner Jerry Jones has been virtually silent as far as Elliott's suspension and the upcoming hearing.
Certainly there will be more to come on this story with the appeal hearing scheduled for later this month.
Stanton in pursuit of 61
Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is on pace to break into some elite company this season.
Stanton, who now sits atop the MLB scoreboard this season for home runs at 44, is looking to become only the sixth player in history to hit 60 or more home runs in a single season.
But it's the 61st home run he really wants.
In what can be seen as an indirect swipe at Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, Stanton told reporters this week he personally sees Roger Maris' mark of 61 home runs in a season as the record.
"When you grow up watching all the old films of Babe Ruth and [Mickey] Mantle and those guys, 61 has always been that printed number," Stanton said.
While those comments aren't necessarily intended to be inflammatory, it does suggest there's a segment of baseball players out there who don't believe that Bonds' record-shattering season of 73 home runs in 2001, nor the remarkable 1998 campaigns of Mark McGwire (70) and Sammy Sosa (68) are without their share of controversy.
We'll be chatting about all those things and more this morning on FIRST SPORTS. We'll also talk Dodgers baseball and college football with Chuck Hayes and we'll continue NFL tourstops with a look at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Makre sure to join me, LIVE, 9am-Noon ET across America on the I Heart Radio app right here or locally on the radio dial at AM1340/93.9FM.