GloveGate leaves questions unanswered

GloveGate leaves questions unanswered

Saturday night, Floyd Mayweather earned a hard fought majority decision win over Marcos Maidana in Mayweather’s most competitive fight since Zab Judah gave him trouble in 2006.

Perhaps the fight that developed Friday after the weigh-in was one of Mayweather’s toughest, as a controversy regarding gloves took place between the two camps. A pair of customized Everlast MX gloves Maidana was looking to wear were deemed unfit by Mayweather’s team, to which the Nevada State Athletic Commission was in agreement.

After this, a stock red pair of the same brand of Everlast MX gloves was deemed acceptable by the commission, but Mayweather’s team was not sold and they demanded Maidana choose a new pair.

As Friday turned to Saturday, the glove controversy still raged on with conflicting reports saying the issue was handled and others saying the battle still raged. When the two stepped into the ring, Maidana was donning a pair of Everlast PowerLock gloves rather than the MX gloves he had used the past few years.

After the post-fight press conference, Maidana’s manager Sebastian Contoursi told reporters that a deal was worked out but said it was confidential what the agreement actually entailed, leading many to believe Mayweather’s team gave up some extra money to have their way.

Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe also failed to specify what the agreement was while also being vague about what the issue was with the stock pair of red gloves the commission deemed acceptable.

It is a letdown that Maidana and his team backed down from their stance because they had Mayweather trapped in a corner. Though Mayweather and Ellerbe said there would be no fight if Maidana didn’t change gloves, contractually they had every right to wear them. Should Mayweather not change his mind, it is his team that would’ve been on the hook legally and in a position where they could’ve faced lawsuits from all angles. That and missing out on his guaranteed $32 million payday.

In the end, Maidana wore different gloves, and if there is to be a rematch you can bet it’ll be in the contract that Maidana can’t wear his beloved MX gloves.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com