In a contact sport like boxing, participants need a number of different pieces of equipment to prevent injury and maximize performance. These athletes work hard in training and by using the right gear, they can ensure that they get the most out of this work. Items like hand wraps, gloves, headgear and proper shoes all help boxers to protect their bodies, while giving them a better chance of winning their fights.
Hand Wraps
Before you can put on your gloves, you must wrap your hands properly to prevent injury. These wraps will protect your wrist, since they will provide additional support, without forcing your wrists to stay straight. Some fighters now use Velcro wraps, as they can put them on quickly, making them convenient to use.
Gloves
You will need a few different pairs of gloves when boxing, as each type has a different purpose. You will start with some bag gloves, as they are light for punching the bag, since you do not need any extra bulk to block your opponent's punches. You will also need sparring gloves, which come with enough padding to block punches and avoid hurting your sparring partner in training. You will find that most sparring gloves weigh around 16 oz. Finally, you will need competition gloves, which weigh between eight and 10 oz.
Headgear
Make sure that you invest in proper headgear, as this will prevent you from taking unnecessary damage during training. This gear should cover as much of your forehead, cheeks and chin as possible, so make sure that you find some headgear that fits you. This gear should also have a lace strap that will keep it in place, as this will prevent your headgear from slipping over your eyes every time your opponent lands a punch. You will wear headgear during an amateur fight, but not as a pro.
Boxing Shoes
When you first begin training, you do not need proper boxing shoes, as a good pair of sneakers will suffice. You might want to purchase high tops, since they provide additional support. As you progress, however, you will need boxing shoes. These shoes differ from running shoes because they have extra support in the shin area, which prevents fighters from rolling their ankles.
References
- "Box Like the Pros"; Joe Frazier, et al.; 2005
- "Fighting Fit: Boxing Workouts, Techniques, and Sparring"; Doug Werner, et al.; 2000
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