In the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts, the hands are the most important weapon in your arsenal. The small bones that make up the hand are prone to injury. Protection for the hands should be worn when training; you can choose from either bag gloves or sparring gloves.
Necessity
Approximately one-third of all injuries in boxing occur to the hand, the GloveGame website reports. Wearing boxing gloves in combination with hand wraps greatly reduces the chances of suffering a hand injury while boxing. The most common injuries are to the knuckles, thumb, wrist and the well known boxer's fracture --- a breakage of the neck of the fifth metacarpal, or the knuckle of the pinkie finger. A well-made boxing glove will stabilize the hand and the wrist area while you perform sparring and bag work.
Bag Glove/Training Glove
Bag gloves or training gloves are the gloves most often worn while training for boxing. Bag gloves can be used when hitting the heavy bag or the focus mitts. The most common weight for such a glove is 16 ounces; they are available in weights from 12 to 22 oz. Bag gloves can be used to spar provided the gloves are free from scratches or damage that may cut an opponent's face.
Sparring Glove/Fight Glove
A sparring glove or fight glove is used for sparring or competition. These gloves are typically lace up, as opposed to the hook-and-loop design used for bag gloves. In amateur competition, a 10-oz. glove is used, with the laces covered by an elastic cuff to secure the glove to the arm. These gloves are usually either red or blue and feature a white area across the knuckle. Professional fight gloves are 8 oz., and the colors are determined by the promoter.
Considerations
It is common for boxing gloves to develop an unpleasant odor. After using your boxing gloves, store them in an area that has suitable ventilation so they can dry properly. There are sprays you can apply to your boxing gloves or sacks you can put them in after use to combat odor as well. You should also wash your hand wraps frequently to help keep your gloves smelling reasonably inoffensive.
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