Best Boxing Gloves - Competition
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9 Best Professional Boxing Gloves: By Weight Class

Boxing gloves are one of the most important accessories for any aspiring or professional boxer. They offer protection to your hands and also avoid grievous injuries to your sparring partner or opponent in a competition. There are hundreds of gloves to choose from and it can get very confusing, especially for someone that is just starting his/her boxing journey. There are special gloves designed for bags, pad work, sparring and competition. While you have more options and freedom while picking gloves for bag work and sparring, competition gloves have very specific rules.
This post will be primarily focused on competition and professionals, I will also cover an easy to read boxing weight classes table for your reference. You will make better informed glove buying decision after reading this post.

Quick Reference Guide

Boxing Gloves: Amateur Competition Category (Weight Between 106lbs to 152lbs: 10oz Gloves)

Boxing Gloves: Amateur Competition Category (Weight over 152lbs: 12oz Gloves)

Boxing Gloves: Professional Competition Category (8oz and 10oz)

Why are there rules for boxing gloves?

Most international competitions have strict control on the configuration of the gloves. There are limits on the weights and also the kind of closure system used to keep the gloves in place. Some competitions mandate that the boxers use the gloves provided by them. The objective of these controls is just one – Prevent unnecessary injury, to your yourself and to your opponent. This might feel counter intuitive, but the aim of boxing is not to maim or kill your opponent. There are elements of elegance to this sport with focus on technique, speed, strength and stamina, all of which can be displayed without grievously injuring your opponent.

Weight of Gloves

The weight of the gloves are very important to get right. Heavy gloves offer more protection but restrict movement. Lighter gloves cause more damage to both your hands and the opponent but improve speed and mobility. Amateur boxers wear heavier gloves than professional boxers during competitions. Our general guidance is to use gloves that are 2oz heavier than the competition requirement for your weight class during gym and bag work. You will protect your hands during training and improve your speed with lighter gloves during competition.

Closure System

Most competitions will require your gloves to have a lace up closure system instead of a hook and loop closure system. This is to ensure that the gloves stay in position during the fight and not come loose therefore risking injury. While lace up gloves are harder to put on, they ensure a snug fit and maximum safety during a fight. We also recommend taping the laces during competition to ensure the laces do not come loose and stay in place for the entire duration of a fight.

Padding

While there is no regulation written specifically for padding in competition gloves, most gloves will feature firmer padding to cause maximum impact to the opponent. It is important to choose wisely, firmer padding also means you are risking injury to your hands.
There are other things that you must take into consideration while making a buying decision like the material used, breathability and even color. But weight, closure system and padding are three major things that affect the outcome of a fight, immaterial of the boxing weight classes.

Best Boxing Gloves for Competition: Amateur

There are 14 boxing weight classes in Amateur boxing (men/women + juniors) starting with a minimum weight of 106lb/~48kg. Glove sizes are measured in oz (ounces) and the weight of gloves used are 10oz/~284gms and 12oz/~340gms in the amateur category. Boxers competing in the categories between 106lb/~48kg and 152lb/~69kg must wear 10oz/~284gms gloves. Boxers competing in categories over 152lb must wear 12oz gloves. The reason for this is very scientific. Lighter boxers will find it difficult to generate speed with heavier gloves and heavier boxers could cause more impact with lighter gloves.

Amateur : 106lbs to 152lbs (Light Flyweight to welterweight)

Best Overall
Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves - 10oz/8oz
4.5
$184.49

Cleto Reyes is one of the most respected names in boxing and is only growing in reputation. They make great quality gloves for both competition and training.

This particular set of gloves is designed for competition and meets all regulatory requirements. They have a slim design and the additional thumb protection prevents eye injuries. They also come with a water repellent nylon material which makes them easier to maintain. Traditional lace up design ensures a snug tight fit and keeps the gloves in place during the entire fight. I would blindly choose these gloves for competition as would our experts and athletes.

Pros:
  • Long laces provide ample length to tie the gloves tightly even for larger hands
  • beautifully designed slim fit
  • Traditional horse hair padding helps create major impact
Cons:
  • Offer lesser hand protection than foam padding
  • These gloves are slightly expensive
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 06:59 am GMT
Best Quality
Winning Professional Boxing Gloves 8oz (Black)
4.5
$350.00

The Japanese take quality seriously and these gloves are yet another magical pair of gloves from Winning. The first thing you will notice when you unpack these gloves is how premium they feel. The quality and softness of the leather, sturdy laces and elegant wrist support make these gloves one of the best in the market today. While they might feel slightly heavy, they offer tremendous protection to your hands with their grade A padding. They also have a unique thumb protection design which protects opponents eyes and your thumbs from serious injury.

Pros:
  • High quality leather
  • Extremely comfortable during fights
  • Sturdy laces
Cons:
  • These gloves are quite expensive
  • Extra padding might reduce impact
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 04:24 am GMT
Best Comfort
Rival Boxing Gloves - 10oz
4.5

Rival has been growing in reputation as a boxing equipment manufacturer. The Canadian company has delivered some fantastic gloves that are loved by amateurs and professionals alike. These particular gloves were very comfortable to box with and you will not feel any pain in your hands even after extended sessions or fights. They are beautifully styled and the lace up design offers a tight fit. The gloves are equipped with two types of foams to offer protection and give more stability during a fight

Pros:
  • Their angled lace track (15 degrees angle) makes a huge difference to the fit
  • Enhanced wrist support
  • Premium look and feel
  • Foam offers good protection to knuckles
Cons:
  • Thick foam reduces impact of punches during a fight
View Deal Buy on Amazon

Amateur : Over 152lbs (Middleweight to Super Heavyweight)

Best Overall (12 oz)
Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves – 12oz
4.5
$209.49 $199.48

Since their introduction into the boxing world in a 1945 world championship fight, Cleto Reyes has long been a global go-to brand for both professional and amateur boxers alike. These gloves are easily one of the best 12oz gloves we have come across in the market. Training with these gloves will have you best prepared for your amateur tournaments. They are made with high quality leather and are handcrafted. These gloves have a form fitting curved knuckle area design which makes them very comfortable to punch with after the break in period. The traditional lace up design ensures a snug fit.

Pros:
  • The weight balance of these gloves is incredible
  • Offers higher punch impact due to its firmness
  • Unique design ensures comfort during fights
Cons:
  • Longer break in time especially for beginners
  • Firm padding could cause injuries during training
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 06:18 am GMT
Most Elegant
Hayabusa T3 Boxing Gloves for Men and Women - Black
4.5
$159.00

These gloves from Hayabusa are one of the most elegant looking gloves in the market. They come with thick padding and ample wrist support which are common features in all Hayabusa , the T3 variant. The underlying cover under the lace is a nice touch and protects your skin from being pinched while being laced up. The other unique feature in these gloves is the addition of a soft cloth like material around the thumb. This can be used to wipe away sweat during training or during a fight. Overall, these are a decent pair of gloves and will meet all basic requirements. One thing that will stand out is how they look on your hands!

Pros:
  • Fantastic wrist support
  • One of the most elegantly designed gloves
  • Wipe-away sweat thumb is a nice to have feature
Cons:
  • Hard to manage for boxers with sweaty hands, it tends to retain moisture
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 09:50 am GMT

>>Read detailed review of Hayabusa products here<<

Best Price
Ringside IMF Pro Fight Gloves - 12oz
4.5
$104.94

One of the biggest complaints boxers have about lace-up gloves is the effort it takes to put these gloves on. IMF Pro fight gloves by Ringside solve that nagging problem. Their innovative quick tie tech lace systems allows you to tighten the gloves with just a few simple pulls of the lace . Segmented cuff offers more stability to the wrists which allows you to use these for bag work too. Pro fight is the first professional fight gloves to incorporate IMF tech padding. While they don't look as good as the Hayabusa, they are really well designed and you will not regret your buying decision. These are one of the best gloves under $100 in the market today.

Pros:
  • Easy to wear lace up design
  • Great wrist support
  • IMF tech padding for better impact absorption
Cons:
  • Can take a long time to break into
  • Care must be taken during the first few sessions of bag work to get used to the gloves or you can risk injury
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 06:38 am GMT

Best Boxing Gloves For Competition : Professional

There are 17 weight categories in professional boxing starting with a minimum weight of 105lb/48kg. Glove sizes are measured in oz (ounces) and the weight of gloves used are 8oz/~227gms and 10oz/~284gms in the professional category. Boxers competing in the categories between 105lb/~48kg and 147lb/~67kg must wear 8oz/~227gms gloves. Boxers competing in categories over 147lb must wear 10oz gloves. The padding used in the gloves worn by professionals is much firmer and will help them land KOs!

Professional: 105lbs to 147lbs (Mini Flyweight to welterweight) – Use 8oz

Professional: 147lbs to over 200lbs (Super Welterweight to Heavyweight) – Use 10oz

Tip: Most of the gloves reviewed below come in both 8oz and 10oz variants. You can pick the size based on your weight category

Best Overall
Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves - 10oz/8oz
4.5
$184.49

Cleto Reyes is one of the most respected names in boxing and is only growing in reputation. They make great quality gloves for both competition and training.

This particular set of gloves is designed for competition and meets all regulatory requirements. They have a slim design and the additional thumb protection prevents eye injuries. They also come with a water repellent nylon material which makes them easier to maintain. Traditional lace up design ensures a snug tight fit and keeps the gloves in place during the entire fight. I would blindly choose these gloves for competition as would our experts and athletes.

Pros:
  • Long laces provide ample length to tie the gloves tightly even for larger hands
  • beautifully designed slim fit
  • Traditional horse hair padding helps create major impact
Cons:
  • Offer lesser hand protection than foam padding
  • These gloves are slightly expensive
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 06:59 am GMT
Best for Sweaty Hands
RDX Professional Boxing Gloves - 8oz/10oz
4.5
$124.90

If durability and protection are the two factors that you're going for, look no further than the RDX Gloves. They're made with Maya hide leather, which gives exceptional durability, crack resistance, and more. The IMPEX padding with horse hair offers fantastic shock protection and protects your hands and wrists during intense fights. These gloves feature a classic polyester lace up design and offer a snug fit and good cuff support. There is additional padding provided for thumbs which is very useful to protect yourself from unnecessary injury. The one thing that really stood out for me personally was how dry & cool these gloves felt on the inside even after hours of training. Highly recommended for boxers who sweat more than normal. 

Pros:
  • Satin material on the inside keeps the gloves sweat free
  • Elegant design
  • Additional thumb cushion for better protection
Cons:
  • Not all components of the gloves are equally durable
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 06:33 am GMT
Title Boxing Full Force Pro Fight Boxing Gloves - 8oz/10oz
4.5
$79.99

Crafted with 100% genuine leather, these gloves from Title are one of the cheapest competition ready lace up gloves on the market. Full palm lace system ensures a snug yet comfortable fit so you are distracted while fighting in a competition. The padding is traditional horse hair that is quite firm and can cause serious impact to the opponent. One of the things I liked about the gloves it the satin-nylon hand compartment liner that repels sweat and keeps your gloves dry during a contest. 

Pros:
  • Satin liner helps keep the gloves dry
  • Horse hair padding ensures maximum punch impact
  • Traditional lace up design ensure tight reliable fit
  • Very economical
Cons:
  • Wrist and knuckle support is minimal which means you must be very careful and technically correct while landing your punches or you will risk injury
View Deal Buy on Amazon
03/12/2023 07:05 am GMT

Reference Table: Boxing Weight Classes and Glove Size guidance (Amateur)

Class NameMen WeightSize of Gloves
Super heavyweight91+kgs / 200+ lbs12oz
Heavyweight81-91 kgs / 178-200 lbs12oz
Light heavyweight75-81 kgs / 165-178 lbs12oz
Middleweight69-75 kgs / 152-165 lbs12oz
Welterweight64-69 kgs / 141-152 lbs10oz
Light welterweight60-64 kgs / 132-141lbs10oz
Lightweight56–60 kgs / 123-132 lbs10oz
Bantamweight52–56 kgs / 114-123 lbs10oz
Flyweight49–52 kgs / 108-114 lbs10oz
Light flyweight46–49 kgs / 101-108 lbs10oz
Amateur Boxing Weight Classes & Glove Size: Men

Reference Table: Boxing Weight Classes and Glove Size Guidance (Professional)

Class NameMen WeightSize of Gloves
Heavyweightunlimited10oz
Cruiserweight90.7 kgs/ 200 lbs10oz
Light heavyweight79.4 kgs / 175 lbs10oz
Super middleweight76.2 kgs / 168 lbs10oz
Middleweight72.5 kgs / 160 lbs10oz
Super welterweight69.9 kgs / 154 lbs10oz
Welterweight66.7 kgs / 147 lbs12oz
Super lightweight63.5 kgs / 140 lbs12oz
Lightweight61.2 kgs / 135 lbs12oz
Super featherweight59.0 kgs / 130 lbs12oz
Featherweight57.2 kgs / 126 lbs12oz
Super bantamweight55.3 kgs / 122 lbs12oz
Bantamweight53.5 kgs / 118 lbs12oz
Super flyweight52.2 kgs /115 lbs12oz
Flyweight50.8 kgs / 112 lbs12oz
Light flyweight49.0 kgs / 108 lbs12oz
Minimumweight47.6 kgs / 105 lbs12oz
Boxing Weight Classes & Glove Size: Men (WBA)

Summary

Boxing Gloves: Amateur Competition Category (Weight Between 106lbs to 152lbs: 10oz Gloves)

Boxing Gloves: Amateur Competition Category (Weight over 152lbs: 12oz Gloves)

Boxing Gloves: Professional Competition Category (8oz and 10oz)

Frequently Asked Questions

Professionals are sometimes obligated to wear the brand that they are sponsored by once they are main stream You will see most professionals wearing Winning, Cleto Reyes, Hayabusa or Ringside.

Boxing headgear and boxing shoes are must-haves for every boxer. Mouthguards, punch trackers, mitts, punching bags, and many more – have a look at the full list of best boxing equipment here

There are preventive methods such as using hand wraps and drying gloves to reduce the stink in your gloves. There are also other methods such as the saltwater soak, the freezer method, or using glove dogs and disinfectants. For details, read our expert article on how to clean your boxing gloves. My recommendation would be to read the cleaning manual that is available on the brand website which could differ by glove type

It is generally not a recommended practice to use boxing gloves for MMA as the competition regulations are different. There are some fantastic brands like RDX, Hayabusa, Combat Sports, Venum, Everlast, Fairtex and UFC Pro that make some of the best MMA gloves. You can read our Best MMA gloves list here

There are 14 weight categories in Amateur boxing (men/women + juniors) starting with a minimum weight of 106lb/~48kg. Glove sizes are measured in oz (ounces) and the weight of gloves used are 10oz/~284gms and 12oz/~340gms in the amateur category. Boxers competing in the categories between 106lb/~48kg and 152lb/~69kg must wear 10oz/~284gms gloves. Boxers competing in categories over 152lb must wear 12oz gloves

No, please use 14oz or bigger for sparring. These gloves generally have better padding and will protect your hands and your sparring partner

Boxers competing in the categories between 105lb/~48kg and 147lb/~67kg must wear 8oz/~227gms gloves. Boxers competing in categories over 147lb must wear 10oz gloves

We highly recommend using gloves designed for a particular sport. There are subtle differences in the glove design that could cause long term damage to your wrists and knuckles if used incorrectly. We have reviewed a list of the best kickboxing gloves here

Although you can choose any of the above gloves to gift your loved one or friend, we recommend checking what kind of boxing gloves they prefer. We have a list of non-boxing gloves ideas that can be used for gifting

Please let us know what you think about our list in the comments section. We would love to hear from your

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