Boxing gloves are made to protect a fighter's hands during training and competition. However, all gloves are not made to be exactly the same. The most appropriate gloves for you will vary in size, weight and style. There are a variety of reasons why the gloves you wear during training will be different from those used in a fight.
Training
In the gym, fighters generally wear 14-ounce gloves when hitting the heavy bag, focus mitts or various reflex-enhancement devices. These gloves are light enough to simulate the feel of those worn during a fight, but large enough to protect the boxer's hands during training. A boxer may choose to train in 12-ounce gloves, but doing so too often can increase his chances of injury during a workout.
Sparring
Sparring is meant to take the form of an actual fight, while allowing each boxer to preserve his body for real competition. Boxers typically spar in 16-ounce gloves. The extra padding is placed around the knuckles, providing each fighter more protection to his hands and face. Boxers who punch extremely hard may wear 18- or 20-ounce gloves, adding even more layers of security. Larger gloves allow you to spar safely.
Competition
During an official bout, boxers usually wear 8- or 10-ounce gloves. The 10-ounce gloves are typically reserved for bouts between fighters weighing more than 140 pounds. Boxers weighing less than 140 pounds usually wear the 8-ounce gloves. Competition gloves are not only smaller, but also more firmly packed than training gloves. While wearing them, both boxers are more prone to causing and suffering physical damage.
Closure Devices
Classic boxing gloves lace up along the underside of the wrist. The strings run from the middle of your forearm down to the meat of your palm. Training gloves are typically secured by a hook-and-loop enclosure. This means they pull tight at the wrist with a Velcro-like strap that wraps and connects around the lower forearm. The hook-and-loop model is designed for easy access, allowing a boxer to slip on and take off his gloves easily during training.
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