"The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Thursday amended its rule for glove size, putting Las Vegas into the hunt to land the much-anticipated July 26 bout between welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Cotto and Margarito have always fought in 8-ounce gloves and prefer to continue fighting in them. But under a provisional rule that has been used for the past couple of years in Nevada, boxers who weighed more than the 135-pound lightweight limit had to wear 10-ounce gloves.
In virtually every other jurisdiction in the world, fighters wear 8-ounce gloves up to the 147-pound welterweight class with 10-ounce gloves being worn in fights over 147 pounds.
Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes Puerto Rico's Cotto and Mexico's Margarito, wanted the fight to take place in 8-ounce gloves, as did the fighters, and pursued a meeting with the Nevada commission to talk it over.
Without the change, Arum said he would not consider Las Vegas for the fight. He has been talking to New York's Madison Square Garden and Atlantic City, N.J., about hosting the HBO PPV fight.
With the rule amended, there is a good chance the fight will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Arum told ESPN.com.
The Nevada commission had made the provisional rule in order to study a possible link between glove size and ring injuries.
At Thursday's meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to allow lightweight and welterweight fighters the option of using 8- or 10-ounce gloves. If the camps can't agree, the default glove size will be 10 ounces, commission executive director Keith Kizer said.
"We found no evidence that an 8-ounce glove would be significantly less safe than a 10-ounce glove in those weight classes," Kizer said. "We did the study. It's good that we did. Now, instead of the commission telling the boxers what they have to wear, we're giving the fighters a little more choice."
Said Arum: "It means that Las Vegas has opened up as an option for the fight. The Cotto team is flying in to visit with me on Tuesday and then we'll have a decision. But the glove size was important. Both of them have always fought in 8-ounce gloves."
Gloves aside, Arum wants the fight in Las Vegas because he believes it will improve the pay-per-view performance by attracting more West Coast media coverage and more interest from Mexican and Mexican-American fans. Many of the media members on the West Coast rarely travel east to cover fights. East Coast media members are more likely to go to Vegas to cover fights."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
In July or August the only way to describe the heat there is unbelievable. It's like being in an oven. It's really bizzare not wanting to be outside even at midnight because it is still 103 degrees.
The dryness helps. That muggy shit back east can stay where the fuck it is.
Course, we're all just fine here in Southern California. Mediterranean climate, bitches. :banana:
there your dumb ass goes.i wasnt trying to slight you,I'm trying to tell tell you the obvious,first you say shit like aint no better place for a fight than vegas then you say this.msg has history.:nonono:
vegas has just as much history in boxing if not more then msg. I dont know what bouts you been too in vegas but there is always a buzz in the. The crowd feeds off the fight if the fight is not excited no one is going be crazy of jabs thats anywhere you go! If boxing was so huge at msg they would have more fights there. not just cotto or east coast fighters.
I hope Oscar makes 147 so he can also wear 8 ounce gloves, makes the Mayweather fight even more interesting.
he said in his conference call he is having trouble making 150 so I dont if he can make 147
The only thing about this fight that's less than ideal as far as Vegas goes is the 130 degree temperature. I don't care if it's only for brief intervals. Stepping out into that heat gets really fucking old. FAST.
In July or August the only way to describe the heat there is unbelievable. It's like being in an oven. It's really bizzare not wanting to be outside even at midnight because it is still 103 degrees.
I can tell that you my friend have NEVER been to vegas!! you should try it out before you say that. :fing02:
there your dumb ass goes.i wasnt trying to slight you,I'm trying to tell tell you the obvious,first you say shit like aint no better place for a fight than vegas then you say this.msg has history.:nonono:
I've been to Las Vegas more times than I can count, and I've had a lot of fun there. But to be honest it is a shitty place to see a live fight. The atmosphere sucks because the casinos cater to high rollers who don't even show up until the main event. You go there for a really good preliminary fight and the place is almost empty with the all the lights on. I've never been to MSG, but I'm sure I'd rather see a live fight there. That being said, I'd love to go to Las Vegas to see Cotto-Margarito if can get a decent seat.
Also some good points made by Scott here. ^
I've been to Las Vegas more times than I can count, and I've had a lot of fun there. But to be honest it is a shitty place to see a live fight. The atmosphere sucks because the casinos cater to high rollers who don't even show up until the main event. You go there for a really good preliminary fight and the place is almost empty with the all the lights on. I've never been to MSG, but I'm sure I'd rather see a live fight there. That being said, I'd love to go to Las Vegas to see Cotto-Margarito if can get a decent seat.
believe what this man says. While Vegas is a choice to go for fights because of the money thrown at it, and when I get to go with my crew we always have a good time, the actual atmosphere can be ass because of what scott said above
by contrast fights away from vegas can be live from bell to bell.
The only thing about this fight that's less than ideal as far as Vegas goes is the 130 degree temperature. I don't care if it's only for brief intervals. Stepping out into that heat gets really fucking old. FAST.
I can tell that you my friend have NEVER been to vegas!! you should try it out before you say that. :fing02:
I've been to Las Vegas more times than I can count, and I've had a lot of fun there. But to be honest it is a shitty place to see a live fight. The atmosphere sucks because the casinos cater to high rollers who don't even show up until the main event. You go there for a really good preliminary fight and the place is almost empty with the all the lights on. I've never been to MSG, but I'm sure I'd rather see a live fight there. That being said, I'd love to go to Las Vegas to see Cotto-Margarito if can get a decent seat.
:lol1: :lol1:
cept msg the mecca.all vegas has over new york is casinos.
I can tell that you my friend have NEVER been to vegas!! you should try it out before you say that. :fing02:
It's a good opportunity to get cotto out of new york for once!!! Nothing beats fights in vegas!!! I hope this comes through!!!
:lol1: :lol1:
cept msg the mecca.all vegas has over new york is casinos.
Cotto should never fight on the East Coast and ESPECIALLY not in Puerto Rico. You gotta bust up Cotto like if he was Gatti in order to be granted a decision