Boxing gloves have radically evolved since the sport first appeared in the Olympics in 688 B.C, and Greek fighters wrapped their hands with oil-softened leather strips called ‘himantes’.
Hundreds of years later the legendary John L. Sullivan unified the gloved and bare knuckle championship in 1889 when he took care of Jake Kilrain, when Kilrain’s corner threw in the towel after the 75th round (yes, 75th…). The ‘Boston Strong Boy’ did it in a pair of leather mitts stuffed with horsehair that were sewn shut.
By the 1930’s the design for boxing gloves became essentially standardised, but their evolution has been fascinating.
These days, boxing gloves largely fall into two categories, horsehair and foam. Horsehair gloves are sturdy and noted for their clout, though they absorb sweat easier, thus they tend to wear the padding down quicker than that of their foam relatives.
Foam-padded gloves meanwhile have become more popular over the past two decades, as they keep hands protected and they absorb shock better than horsehair gloves do.
A quick search on Amazon shows a new pair of boxing gloves / bag mitts can be purchased for less than £10 these days, while a pair of Cleto Reyes Traditional Contest Gloves could set you back £300+ depending on where you purchase them online.
Boxing gloves are measured by weight in ounces. The standard sizes are 12, 14, and 16 oz. However, 10 oz. gloves are the most popular type of glove for speedball and pad workouts. Similarly, for arduous heavy bag training sessions, bigger fighters tend to wear 18 or 20 oz. mitts.
Reviews: Reyes vs Grant vs Everlast and more
Cleto Reyes: These top tier boxing gloves are made to last, and have a reputation as a glove preferred by knockout merchants. They hand made and hand stitched in Mexico. The reputation as the best ‘puncher’s glove’ on the market is well deserved. This is due to the fact there is less padding is on the knuckle area than other gloves, like Grant or Winning for example. Cleto Reyes are almost unique in that you can feel your knuckles through the padding when you have them on. This obviously equates to more punching power, but less hand protection. The legendary Manny Pacquiao was synonymous with Reyes gloves, with trainer Freddie Roach once remarking that ‘Pacman’ “doesn’t feel comfortable in anything else”. A word of caution for beginners however. The padding in these gloves is very dense and the leather is quite thick, so these gloves will take a bit of breaking in, with middle knuckle and wrist bruising sometimes common.
Grants: Described by one UK pro as “an unbelievable glove” Grant became synonymous with Floyd Mayweather Jr, who used their 10 oz. gloves during his welterweight pomp. Mayweather had issues with brittle hands in his career so enjoyed the additional protection Grant gloves offered his multi-million dollar mitts. Grant gloves are among the best gloves on the market for those who want their hands to be protected. Though there are many types, a common theme with Grants is they offer good wrist support and just feel great to have around your hands. Another plus point is they do not cost the earth in comparison to other high-end brands.
Everlast: One of the biggest names in boxing equipment, Everlast gloves are very supportive and solid all around. However, given their vast range some gloves are certainly better than others. Everlast is the company that most people think about when it comes to boxing, and were the glove of choice of a peak Muhammad Ali. Their gloves generally give a nice balance in terms of hand protection and punching power. Notable current pros who use Everlast include Deontay Wilder, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. Prices range from £20 to £200+ for gloves made by Everlast.
Adidas: Given Adidas are a sportswear giant, the reviews of their various boxing gloves are a bit mixed. As you would expect given the size of the company, Adidas have produced a wide range of boxing gloves, hand wraps and apparel for boxing, MMA and Muay Thai down the years. They manufacture products that accommodate a range of budget types as well as mitts tailored for beginners through to experienced professional competitors. The Adidas hybrid 200 PL lace-ups are an excellent glove and offer value for money. Foam-padded gloves have become more popular over the past two decades, as they keep your hands protected and they absorb shock better than horsehair gloves do. However, they will not last forever with the reports suggesting it is not unusual for the foam to give out on these gloves after 12-18 months of regular use.
Title: A UK manufacturer, there are better gloves out there than Title but there are certainly worse.Title is generally considered a reputable brand in the boxing industry. Aside from gloves, they also produce bags, and apparel, and are known for providing quality products for both amateur and professional boxers. Their sparring gloves are particularly good and hold up well. If you are buying on a budget and are new to the sport, there would be worse choices than going for something in the Title range.
Venum: These gloves are generally reasonably priced and the consensus is they are also good value. These gloves have lots of padding and support and one former UK pro – now operating in BKFC – said “I feel like I don’t need to wear wraps” when he trains or spars in Venum. These mitts are always a solid option for those with a limited budget. Their black-white Venum Giant 3.0 boxing gloves are a very popular glove, known for their foam padding and wrist support.
Fly: A UK brand, Fly are known as a puncher’s glove. Made with horsehair, any gloves with horsehair padding provides the glove with less protection to both combatants’ hands, and their opponent’s face. The Fly brand of boxing gloves hit the headlines in 2021 after the WBC stated that the brand are not to be worn in any contest sanctioned by the governing body due to safety concerns. Dillian Whyte and Lawrence Okolie are two UK fighters who have used Fly gloves in recent times. They are popular gloves; offer a satisfying ‘pop’ on the heavy bag and prices are not extortionate.
Winning: A high-end brand of glove manufactured in Japan, the popularity of these gloves lies in their durability. Some gloves begin to fall apart after regular use after a year or so, yet many owners of Winning gloves report the gloves still look and feel like new after 3+ years or regular use. Many fighters swear by Winning when training, because of the way the padding protects the hand. If you are a fighter with hand problems, these are probably the gloves for you. They are expensive, but in some respects they represent value for money given their longevity. Canelo Alvarez used the Winning brand for a good chunk of his career, making them popular with Latino fighters and fans. As opposed to horsehair, Winning uses synthetic material which means they offer massive protection and are regarded as ‘pillows’ by some in the trade.
Rival: Popular for training and sparring due to their reputation for extra hand and wrist protection, Rival are expensive compared to some brands but have a reputation for durability and hand safety. When asked to rate Rival, one current UK featherweight professional remarked “Best gloves I’ve ever owned. You can hit the bag as hard as you want and there’s no movement whatsoever (of your hand) in the glove.” Very comfortable and take very little breaking in, so worth the money if you can afford it.
RDX: RDX have a rep as a very affordable glove. They are durable and ideal for those new to the sport as the much attached thumb encourages beginners to make the correct fist shape.A durable glove, the material on these gloves feels a bit smoother to touch than real leather, with a slightly plastic-type / rubbery feel to most sets.RDX are a popular choice for people’s first equipment when they are starting out in combat sports. One negative is that the wrist support isn’t brilliant, though these gloves do have a certain visual attraction due to their bright colours (red, blue, green and gold).
Sting: Sting have a deserved reputation for providing long-lasting performance and reliability. A popular glove with amateur boxers, these are another glove popular for training and sparring on account of their reputation for comfort. Sting gloves are reasonably priced and are known for their excellent hand and wrist protection.
Size matters – which is right for you?
In terms of safety, size matters. You want a fit that’s snug but not too tight, and a glove that is large enough to protect your hands but not so clunky that it weighs you down.
As stated, glove weights typically start at 10 oz and go up to 18 oz. (though there are heavier and lighter variations).
It is often personal preference in terms of what feels right but for bag and pad work, aspiring fighters often choose from 10 and 14 oz. gloves.
In a nutshell, lighter gloves are worn with precision and speed in mind, while still maintaining enough padding to protect your hands.
On the other hand, when selecting boxing gloves for sparring, most people want a bulkier option (typically 16 or 18 oz. mitts). Not unlike tennis, choosing the specific size and ounces is dependent on body weight and hand size, as opposed to gender.
Boxing gloves for beginners
As in most sports, boxers start off by trying to learn the basic moves and techniques. A beginner should never be thrown straight in to spar or fight, and would normally start off with shadow boxing, bag work and pad work at this stage. Sparring will typically commence at least a couple of months later (or even years depending on the age of the beginner).
Getting a glove that is the correct size / weight is therefore essential.
If your boxing gloves do not fit properly or weigh the right amount, you might end up injuring yourself, or at the very least being uncomfortable/in pain and not being able to throw proper punches. For this reason, Cleto Reyes for example would not be a wise choice for a beginner. For those starting out, gloves that provide ample protection and cushioning for the hands are essential.
With this in mind, TITLE Gel World Elastic Training Gloves would be a decent choice. Financially these gloves would not break the bank and are a durable glove affording plenty of protection.
Everlast Elite Training Gloves are another solid option for newbies. Relatively affordable, they offer plenty of padding to keep your knuckles safe. The shock absorption for these gloves feels really good, meaning beginners can whack away on the back with no fear of damaging their knuckles.
