A boxer wears specialized shoes during training and competition. They are designed to support specific tasks that he performs as a fighter. The dimensions of a boxing shoe are, therefore, significantly different from those of a traditional sneaker. However, these differences enable a fighter to execute the very maneuvers that can ensure his success in the sport.
Height
Boxing shoes are typically designed to come up much higher on the leg than traditional sneakers. The classic model stops just above the midpoint of your shinbone. When laced up, these shoes strengthen the entire structure of your lower leg. This is especially valuable during competition, as the rigors of moving, punching and pushing place the bones and connective tissue of your ankles under added stress. Some boxers, however, find the high-cut design too cumbersome and restrictive. Lower-cut brands are available for these fighters.
Material
Boxing shoes are generally constructed in one of two types of material. The first is a nylon-like fabric that allows your foot to breathe and stay relatively dry. Sweat is drawn into the outer layers of material, where it evaporates, cooling the shoe's inside. The second type of shoe is made either in organic or synthetic leather. This kind of shoe holds in a greater amount of moisture but also offers more reinforcement to your foot and ankle. It is often worn by "heavy-handed" fighters, who generate power from the feet and legs.
Sole Thickness
The soles of boxing shoes are much thinner than those of traditional sneakers. Ridges, on the bottom, are also shallower, making the shoes too "slippery" for day-to-day walking. A ring floor, however, is laced with canvas, a material that automatically "latches on" to the underside of your shoe. The bottom of boxing shoes makes them ideal within the environment for which they are made, providing your foot just enough traction to move normally on this surface.
Significance
Boxing shoes are designed in a way that makes them most practical for your tasks as a fighter. They are lightweight and allow you to glide easily across a ring. They also allow you to pivot your foot when throwing punches while providing the traction you need to "dig in" during close-quarter fighting. The structure supports the connective tissue of your foot, encouraging optimum performance during battle. While very different in many ways from traditional sneakers, the right pair of boxing shoes can encourage your overall success as a fighter.
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