What Are Sparring Gloves?

The right type of equipment will set you up for success in boxing, whether it’s your first time ever hitting a punchbag, or if you are a seasoned pro at the combat sport.

You might think you’re all set and ready for your boxing journey if you only own a pair of boxing gloves but then you may be introduced to sparring gloves and you may think “what are sparring gloves?”. But if you invest in a pair of sparring gloves, you are guaranteed an improved boxing experience.

Made of durable leather, multilayered foam padding and gel lining, our sparring gloves will make all the difference for you. They are much bigger than regular bag gloves and often come with more padding for better protection against punches and kicks. Our sparring gloves also offer excellent wrist support, and they are designed to protect your sparring partner from face and head injuries and accidental knockouts.

So, what are sparring gloves and how will they help me with my boxing training?

Sparring gloves are heavier than regular bag gloves. Ideal for sparring with a partner, sparring gloves are a must-have accessory for when you want to familiarise yourself with the environment of a boxing match. Stimulating a boxing fight with a partner will help you apply your techniques in real life, which will heighten both of your self-defence skills. Live sparring will also help build muscle memory, as your body gets more used to the feeling of you practising your moves.

Sparring is hugely important for boxing training. It will boost your hand-eye coordination and improve your reaction times. It allows you to work on all sorts of areas, from your footwork, positioning, staying calm and focused, and visualizing how to keep a safe distance from your opponent.

What Oz are sparring gloves?

At Sports Maxx, we sell sparring gloves in the following sizes:

• 4oz
• 60z
• 80z
• 10oz
• 12oz
• 130z
• 16oz

Our sparring gloves are available in adult and junior sizes.

How do I find out my boxing glove size?

If you have never ordered boxing gloves online before and you don’t know what your glove size is, you can still figure out your glove size from home. To measure your boxing glove size, you will need to know your weight and the circumference of your hand.

To measure your hand circumference, wrap a piece of string around the palm of your hand. Then, measure the length of the string, which will give you your hand circumference.

Here is a handy size chart which shows you can find your boxing glove size. This chart does not include hand wraps.

If the glove you choose is too tight, then size up. Or if it’s too roomy, then size down.

Boxer’s Weight	Hand Circumference	Boxing Glove Size
40 to 54 kg	13.97 to  16.51 cm	8oz
54 to 68 kg	16.51 to 19.05	10oz
68 to 84 kg	19.05 to 21.59 cm	12oz
84 kg	21.59 to 24.13 cm	14oz

 

Can I hit the punchbag with sparring gloves?

Yes, you can use your sparring gloves on your punchbag. Boxing with a punchbag builds your stability, balance and endurance.

Can you use sparring gloves on pads?

Yes, sparring gloves can be used for punching on punch pads. Punch pads improve the accuracy of your strikes and they also build your resilience.

How can I choose the right type of sparring gloves?

• Your sparring gloves should fit comfortably over your hands.
• They provide adequate support for your knuckles and wrists, no matter how hard you punch.
• There should be good ventilation.
• If there is a Velcro strap, it should be long-lasting.
• The gloves shouldn’t feel too bulky.

What shall I do before my sparring session?

• Find a partner who is completely safe to spar with. Pick someone who is on a similar skill level as you.
• Don’t choose a sparring partner who is a newcomer to boxing and does not know what they are doing. They could be underconfident and not understand instructions, which could lead to injuries.
• Always communicate with your sparring partner about which drills you are going to practice, to avoid the risk of injuries.
• Start light with your sparring; don’t go in very intense right away. Build your pace slowly.
• When you are sparring with a partner, one of you should be on offence and the other on defence. Switch roles after a couple of rounds.
• Before a sparring session, always tell your partner what type of gloves you are going to wear, and vice versa.
• You don’t want to choose a heavy-weighted glove and then not tell your partner you are wearing them, as the impact of punches could be heavier than your partner expected and could lead to unexpected injuries.
• If you are in doubt, ask your trainer or a gym instructor about which type of gloves are best for sparring with a partner.
• Don’t forget to warm up before your sparring session. You can start with a round of light punching on a punchbag for two to three minutes.

How do I spar?

• Remember to keep your head up, so you can observe punches coming your way.
• Repeat the jab-cross drill for a few minutes. You do this by throwing a jab-cross and your partner tenses up their guard to block the shots. Then, they return a jab-cross ad you tense up your guard to block their shots.
• Get your partner to hold and move the punch pad as you strike it with two punches and three punches. Then, switch roles.
• Try shadow sparring, so watch yourself in front of a mirror as you punch to your heart’s content. This will help you study which areas you need to improve on.

Can you spar with Velcro boxing gloves?

Yes, you and your partner can spar with Velcro boxing gloves. They are easy to slip on and off, unlike lace-up boxing gloves, which require help from another person to lace them up for you.

Just be careful that you don’t accidentally scratch your sparring partner with the Velcro strap on your gloves.

How tight should sparring gloves feel?

• Make sure you can wear hand wraps before you put your sparring gloves on.
• Your sparring gloves should fit tightly on your hands, with space for your thumb to be separated from your other fingers.
• Your hands should be in a semi-clenched fist.
• Don’t choose sparring gloves that are so tight that you risk cutting off your circulation.
• Your fingers should not feel cramped inside your sparring gloves.
• Nor should your fingers have room to move around inside your gloves.
• If your gloves have a Velcro strap, check that the Velcro strap is fastened comfortably, so that the gloves don’t slip off easily.

Your hands and wrists should feel comfortable and supported throughout the entirety of your boxing session.

Can I use MMA gloves for boxing?

No, you must never use MMA gloves for boxing- whether that’s on a punchbag, punch pads or a boxing dummy (body opponent bag). You could severely damage your knuckles, wrists and wrists, and seriously injure your opponent if wear MMA gloves while boxing.

That is because MMA gloves are small, lightweight and open-fingered, which allow the fighter to grab and grapple their opponent.

MMA gloves have thinner padding than boxing gloves, so they won’t absorb punches as easily. Some MMA gloves do not come with longer wrist straps, so you won’t have that wrist support needed for boxing training.

Do heavier boxing gloves hurt more?

Contrary to what you might think, a heavier glove won’t always hurt more. A heavier boxing glove, which weighs 16oz, will fatigue the boxer faster, as it is more weighty.

Whereas, with a lightweight boxing glove, which weighs around 10oz, you actually have an increased risk of injury.

If you want to hit harder, you don’t need to size up your sparring gloves- you just need to work on other areas such as your techniques and positioning.

Which gloves hurt more, MMA or boxing?

MMA is a notoriously gory sport- common injuries include facial abrasions, sprains, knee and shoulder dislocations and leg fractures. So, MMA gloves produce more surface trauma, such as cuts and bruises. Because the MMA gloves are thinner and more rigid, they cause more superficial damage.

However, boxing gloves are more padded and cover more surface area, so they offer more protection to the boxer. But boxing gloves can cause more long-term brain damage, as the glove’s cushioned padding allows boxers to pack a lot of force in their punches.

What is a Mexican boxing glove?

Mexican boxing gloves are a sleeker, more comfortable version of training gloves, popular amongst boxers who are looking for gloves that are less chunky and awkward. These gloves contain smaller and more compact padding.

Why is horsehair used in boxing gloves?

These days, modern gloves use foam padding. But when boxing gloves were first made, they were stuffed with horsehair to make them padded. Horsehair is durable and absorbs sweat, however, they provide less protection to your hands and your opponent’s face. Horsehair boxing gloves are enjoyed by big-name fighters including ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury and Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez.

We hope this article has delivered the necessary insight needed for you to answer the question “what are sparring gloves?”.

A family-run business established in 2000, Sports Maxx is the UK’s top boxing equipment supplier.

Find out more about Sports Maxx by visiting our website here.

To purchase sparring gloves from our broad collection of professional boxing gloves, click here.