How to choose boxing gloves?

Sooner or later, every person involved in boxing has a need to purchase their own boxing gloves. Buying your own gloves is very important because not all boxers are given gloves. Of course, you need to make the right choice. Nowadays, there is a wide selection of boxing gloves. It will be difficult for a person who has recently started boxing to choose the right gloves, as the choice is really wide.

The history of boxing and boxing gloves

Boxing is one of the oldest types of martial arts. Someone considers it a real art, someone considers this sport to be an exclusively bloody fight. To understand the essence of this male hobby, which is included in the program of the Olympic Games, you can only learn more about it than an ordinary person who does not engage in boxing knows.

The history of boxing originates in the distant past. The history of boxing gloves dates back more than 3 thousand years. For the first time, something similar to boxing gloves was used in ancient Greece, where soft leather dressings were used as hand protection. Fisticuffs were part of the ancient Olympic Games. There is also a legend that the founder of fisticuffs was Heracles. Then, just as now, the battles were fought on a square plot, which was fenced with ropes and sprinkled with sand. The fight ended with the final victory of one of the fighters or a plea for mercy. In the gladiatorial battles of Ancient Rome, they sought to increase the force of the blow, so metal pads were put on their hands. Fisticuffs were part of the training of warriors. The Orthodox Church, in spite of relaxed rules, considered fist fights an inhuman sport, and therefore forbade them.

The Rules for Boxing with Gloves was developed and published by Marquis John Douglas of Queensbury in 1865, which was the foundation for creating modern boxing rules. But even after the creation of such rules, bare-fisted fighting lasted a quarter of a century. In 1889, the last gloveless fist fight between Mitchell Kiprivipp and John Salpivan took place in America.

The organizers of the 1st and 2nd Olympic Games considered boxing an inhuman sport, and therefore it was included in the program of the Olympic Games only in 1904, since at that time boxing in America became a very popular sport. After 4 years, in London, boxing was included in the program of the Olympic Games. But only since 1920 has boxing officially become a permanent Olympic discipline. At the same time, the popularity of this sport is sharply increasing.

The most expensive boxing gloves in the world are considered diamond gloves worth $20,000, which are inlaid with white (10 carats) and black (35 carats) diamonds. Gold is also included in these gloves.

Types of boxing gloves

As this website states, here are several types of boxing gloves. Boxing gloves are divided into types depending on the purpose:

  • professional;
  • training;
  • gloves for the trainer;
  • bag gloves (used to work with various equipment (punch bags, sacks, etc.).

Professional boxing gloves

Used in professional fights. Basically, these gloves are made to order by a boxer. Fixing exclusively on the lacing.

Training gloves

Training boxing gloves are used during amateur boxing competitions, as well as during training.

Bag gloves

Bag gloves are designed exclusively for working with different equipment. These gloves have a more dense filler. Fixing – with Velcro or elastic.

The main characteristics of boxing gloves:

  • weight (measured in ounces);
  • filler;
  • material of manufacture;
  • fixation.

Depending on the purpose, the weight and material of the manufacture of boxing gloves may be different. They have a foam filler inside to soften the shock.

Filler

There are two types: cotton and professional (air-foam rubber or foam rubber). Cotton will eventually get into lumps, which can cause injuries.

Fixation

Fixing the boxing gloves is done using Velcro or lacing.

Lace-up boxing gloves are a great choice as they provide a solid fit. Lacing runs from the beginning of the palm to the wrist. Gloves with this type of fixation are used in professional competitions. The only drawback is that you cannot put on such a glove yourself.

Velcro boxing gloves are the most popular ones. Despite the bad fixation (compared to lacing), it is pretty convenient to wear them, and this does not require additional help.

Gloves weight

Weight options for professional and training gloves: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 oz (ounces).

The weight of professional gloves is determined by the rules of the competition (mainly 8 and 10 ounces).

Training gloves should be selected depending on the weight of the boxer:

  • 4-6 ounces – children’s gloves;
  • 8-10 ounces – youth;
  • 12-14 ounces – when boxer’s weight is 80-100 kilograms;
  • 16-20 ounces – when a boxer’s weight is 100 kilograms and above.


The size of the gloves depends on their weight. It should be remembered that the greater the weight of the boxer, the harder the gloves should be – this rule should be followed in the preparation for the competition. The requirements for gloves and other sports equipment for competitions are determined by the rules of their conduct.

Bag gloves and trainer’s gloves have sizes S, M, L, XL (depending on the size of the boxer’s hand).

Boxing gloves are distinguished by the material from which they are made: leather or leather substitute.

Important tip! When choosing boxing gloves, you should wrap your hand in a boxing bandage so as not to make a mistake with the size, since the training will take place with bandaged hands only.

Hands inside gloves must always be bandaged. A boxing bandage with a length of 2.5 m to 4.5 m, which is mainly made from cotton or cotton with elastic, protects the hand from injury and absorbs moisture (this will keep the gloves dry). The entire hand (except for fingers) should be bandaged.

P.S. When choosing boxing gloves, pay attention to Everlast products. Since 1910, it has been producing boxing gloves that have gained popularity around the world. Wearing the boxing gloves of this company, Muhammad Ali, Joe Fraser, George Foreman, Mike Tyson entered the ring. The brand offers customers training (for example, Everlast Protex 3 Elite EVPXSGV), professional, and amateur (Everlast EVAGU) gloves.