“Which glove do you recommend?”

It is a question we are often asked, even by more experienced boxers. The reason is because boxing gloves are extremely different from them and boxing training that has evolved over time requires increasingly well-finished and protective products. Furthermore, boxers of the same experience, but with different physical or technical characteristics, must necessarily choose a boxing glove with different weight, materials, padding and structure.

In this series of four articles we will cover these issues:

What is the right size for boxing gloves?
Different types of gloves for the type of use
Padding differences in boxing gloves
Which boxing gloves for amateurs, amateurs and professionals

What is the right size for boxing gloves?
The origins of the size of boxing gloves
The weight (ounces) as a measure of boxing gloves dates back to 1867, the year in which the Marquis of Queensberry drafted the rules of modern boxing. The gloves worn by the boxers had to have a “fair” size according to the weight of the boxers. At this time the concept of measurement was introduced, which was quantified in weight (ounces) and not in size of the glove.

At that time the weight of the glove was considered of extreme importance, as the more the glove was padded and therefore protective, the more heaviness it acquired. Gloves, unlike modern gloves, which are built with very different materials than in the past, were mainly made of untreated and natural-colored leathers, with horsehair padding and other products inside (for further information on what ‘is inside the boxing gloves).

Ounces as a yardstick have been maintained over time as modern boxing originated in the UK, gaining popularity and spread throughout the world from there.

Today the most popular sizes on the market range from 8oz (226gr) to 16oz (453gr).

The choice of boxing glove size depends on three main variables:

The type of use of the gloves
Boxer’s weight
Experience of the boxer and type of activity
The level of protection sought
Which weight to choose?

Type of use:
As we all know, boxing training is divided into different types of activities, in which the contact with another training partner or with the coach varies greatly.

While some heavier ounces (14oz and 16oz) are suitable for training such as sparring and techniques with training partners, others (8oz and 10oz) are more used for the heavy bag. As for the boxing gloves for combat we deepen here.

Boxer’s Weight:
the ounce as a measure not only indicates the weight of the glove, but also approximately the size of the model. Therefore it is generally recommended to take a pair of gloves with a higher ounce for heavier people. Indicatively, in fact, the heaviest people are also those with a larger build, and therefore also with larger hands. The standard parameters for boxing gloves are:

up to 57 kg: 10 oz gloves

up to 69 kg: 12 oz gloves

up to 79 kg: 14 oz gloves

over 79 kg: 16 oz gloves

Generally these indications are wrong as they do not take into account the other variables in play indicated above.

Experience of the boxer
The amateur boxer with little experience will certainly have different needs from the more advanced boxer, or the agonist, or even the professional.

In addition to the type of glove to use, it must be considered that the different training activities require different types of protection and that the less experienced boxer will need less protection. The reasons for this statement are to be found in the type of impact, which in the novice is of less strength and intensity than in an experienced boxer with greater coordination and strength.

The more the experience grows, the more the athlete will try to express their power in techniques, in the bag and in sparring.

In addition to that, the volume of shots pulled will also be greater. Although experience can reduce injuries due to incorrect hand support, the number of microtraumas and bruises due to impacts will certainly have to be reduced by more padded and consequently heavy gloves.

Protection sought
Boxers may seek different levels of hand protection.

Sometimes, in fact, even if in training, protection is sacrificed to the detriment of the greater power exerted on the bag or on the sparring partner.

Less padding in fact reduces the impact time and creates more damage to the training partner (how does the boxing glove protect?).

Often, however, more experienced boxers look for a glove that is protective for the hands and wrists, so they tend to choose larger ounces even for technical and bag training.

This not only brings advantages in terms of safety, but also increases the effort of the boxer who must use more power to give speed and strength to the blow inflicted with a heavier glove.

So which glove weight should I choose?

Therefore, common sense coaches from all over the world recommend using heavier gloves for heavy hand and joint workouts such as sparring and heavy bag.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, in addition to the weight of the boxer, it is also important to consider the experience, power and protection sought by the boxer himself. However, always leaning towards greater protection and therefore greater padding, which does not affect the correct support of the knuckles.

Obviously, for more technical work in the bag, as well as the passes with the teacher, it is possible to use lighter or bag gloves, without obviously neglecting the protection of the knuckles, carpus and metacarpus.