On Wednesday morning, the Nevada State Athletic Commission ruled that Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will fight wearing 8oz gloves.

The two met are set to meet on August 26 at the junior-middleweight weight limit of 154 pounds, which meant that 10oz boxing gloves are mandatory, but the NASC relaxed their rules on a one-time only basis.

Mayweather took to social media to first challenge McGregor to wear 8oz gloves instead of 10oz: “I’m telling McGregor, ‘let’s fight in 8oz gloves’”, he wrote on his Instagram page.

But why would Mayweather — who hasn’t knocked out an opponent since Victor Ortiz in 2011 and has admitted to suffering from “brittle fists” — want to fight in lighter gloves, something which would appear to favour McGregor?

And what are the Nevada State Athletic Commissions actual rules on the topic?

Here, we attempt to clear up some of the confusion.

What did Mayweather propose?

In his typically understated fashion, Mayweather pictured a plain black image with “MCGREGOR… LET’S FIGHT IN 8 OZ GLOVES” written on it in large white lettering.

The caption underneath read:

Don't believe what you hear in the media. Don't believe what you hear on blog sites. If it's not coming directly from me, then it's not true.

I'm telling McGregor, "Let's fight in 8 oz gloves".

McGregor can fight in any brand he prefers or chooses. I'll be wearing 8 oz Grant gloves.

Whatever advantage McGregor needs to feel more comfortable in the ring, I'm willing to accommodate. Let's give the boxing and MMA fans what they want to see.

So, in a nutshell, Mayweather wanted to scrap the original plan to wear 10oz gloves so that both men can wear lighter 8oz gloves, instead.

Why is that unusual?

It’s unusual because it was widely assumed that the fight was taking place at the light-middleweight limit — slightly heavier than Mayweather’s ideal weight — precisely because he wanted to fight in the larger 10 oz gloves.

McGregor is the bigger and stronger man (Getty)

But keen boxing fans will have been most surprised by the third paragraph of the short statement: “McGregor can fight in any brand he prefers or chooses. I'll be wearing 8 oz Grant gloves.”

That admission represents a remarkable change of approach from Mayweather, who is known for being one of the best prepared (some might even say neurotic) boxers in the business.

The build-up to the Manny Pacquiao fight, for example, was dominated by arguments over what type of gloves would be used, with Mayweather’s representatives controversially contesting the use of Pacquiao's preferred Reyes-manufactured boxing gloves shortly after the weigh-in.

What has McGregor said on the topic?

The Irishman has repeatedly criticised his opponent for his many stipulations on what gloves will be used. In Los Angeles, on the first leg of their promotional tour, he said:

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(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 03-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 04-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 05-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Picture shows an arrangement of copies of The Sun newspaper front pages on February 13, 2012. Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid The Sun condemned police raids against its journalists as a "witch-hunt" worthy of former communist states, and won rare support from rival newspapers. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 06-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 20: Conor McGregor waits for the start of his welterweight rematch against Nate Diaz at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by majority decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 07-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 13: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on while taking on Marcos Maidana during their WBC/WBA welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 13, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 08-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 02: Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe introduces honoree Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the 2017 Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Orleans Arena on June 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 09-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg TORRENCE, CA - FEBRUARY 24: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor speaks during an interview after a news conference with lightweight contender Nate Diaz at UFC Gym February 24, 2016, in Torrance, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 10-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 11-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on during the welterweight unification championship bout against Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 12-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 13-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 14-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 17: (L to R) Conor McGregor, & Michael Conlan celebrate Conlan's 3rd round TKO win over Tim Ibarra in his super bantamweight bout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 15-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor addresses the media during the UFC 205 press conference at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Getty Images Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 16-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg Mayweather vs McGregor: From trash-talk to super-fight 17-mayweather-mcgregor-trash-talk-timeline.jpg LAS VEGAS - MAY 23: Musician Musician Keith Urban performs onstage during the 41st Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Getty Images

All these rules, all these restrictions, it doesn’t faze me, it amuses me. The gloves. They have to be 10 oz. 154 lbs, he’s never fought at 154, I think he’s fought at 154 maybe once.

He wants the gloves up, no problem, give him the gloves up. I’ll wear 10 oz. No Mexican made gloves, OK, no problem. No gloves made out of horse hair, no problem, I don’t give a f***.

We’re only wearing gloves in our game about five years. So I don’t give a s*** about gloves or any of that. I’m just enjoying it. It’s funny to me, all these rules. All I need is a gum shield, line me up to the ring and I’m good to go.

Later on in that press conference, Mayweather retorted by shouting “If you want 8 oz gloves, let’s put 8 oz gloves on. If you want 4 oz gloves, let’s put 4 oz gloves on.”

McGregor’s response?

“Give me 4 oz gloves then.”

Why does the size of the gloves matter?

The size of the gloves matters a huge deal.

The Irishman has stopped the majority of his opponents (Getty)

In the sport of mixed martial arts, McGregor is known and respected as one of the greatest knockout artists in the game. His pull-back left-hand counter is regarded by many pundits as the greatest strike in the sport and he has finished the vast majority of his opponents by either KO or TKO.

In the UFC, the promotion McGregor fights for, fighters wear 4 oz gloves. So McGregor’s punching power will naturally be less in the ring than it is in the Octagon.

But wearing 8 oz gloves would suit him far more than wearing 10 oz gloves, which are more than double the weight of the gloves he is accustomed to fighting in.

First video of Conor McGregor boxing shows him battling former IBF champion

What are the advantages for each man?

For McGregor, the advantages are obvious. The gloves are closer in weight to the 4oz UFC issued gloves that he is used to, with the lighter weight increasing the chance of landing a knockout blow.

They also increase Mayweather’s chances of course, but considering that the American last stopped somebody in 2011 when he controversially knocked out Victor Ortiz, it’s unlikely McGregor will be too worried.

Rather, Mayweather’s primary advantage from using lighter gloves is that his hand speed – and so his famed defence – will be much quicker. Plus he is more used to 8oz gloves, having used them in all but three of his previous 49 fights.

What has the Nevada State Athletic Commission had to say?

It was initially reported that the Nevada State Athletic Commission had denied there was any possibility of the fight taking place at the junior-middleweight weight limit with both men wearing 8 oz gloves.

Will the rule change be permitted? (Getty)

“These regulations are in place for the health and safety of the athletes, which is of the utmost importance to the commission," the Nevada commission executive director Bob Bennett told ESPN on Tuesday night. “Our regulations already outline the appropriate glove size according to contracted weight of a fight.”

However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission rules clarify that it is possible the fight can take place with 8 oz gloves.

According to the rules, "athletes (boxers/kick boxers) weighing-in up to and including 135 pounds must wear 8 oz gloves in competition, while athletes weighing-in over 135 pounds (junior welterweight class and above) must wear 10 oz gloves in competition. However, athletes weighing-in over 135 but (no) more than 147 may wear 8 oz gloves in competition if both athletes agree to do so in writing on their bout agreement (contract).”

So, the late rule change is possible should both men agree to the change in writing.

And what happened on Wednesday?