What Oz Do Pro Boxers Use?

By Kasim Javed Boxing Gloves

Professional boxing is a tremendously exciting sport to watch, and it gains more popularity every day.

Just days ago, millions of people all over the world tuned in to watch Manchester-born pro boxer Tommy Fury go head-to-head against American social media personality Jake Paul in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

The long-anticipated boxing match ended in a victory for Love Island star Tommy, although former Disney Channel alum Jake put up a good fight.

It cannot be emphasised enough, but boxers of all abilities require the right type of gloves, to keep their hands and wrists safe from injuries.

So, what oz do pro boxers use? We will dive into this topic in this article, so we hope you enjoy reading it!

What oz do pro boxers use?

So, what oz do pro boxers use?

Well, professional boxing rules require that competition gloves weigh either 8oz or 10oz, unless otherwise stated by the sanctioning body which is sponsoring the match.

For older fighters and heavyweight boxers, 16oz gloves are the most common glove size.

If a pro boxer requires more padding and protection for their hands, then they will size up their gloves accordingly. For instance, American boxing legend Mike Tyson famously wore 18oz sparring gloves, as he was a heavyweight champion.

For training purposes only, a pro boxer may use larger-size boxing gloves (ranging between 14oz and 20oz), but they will switch to smaller gloves for fights.

What training do pro boxers do?

It is incumbent upon pro boxers to adhere a strict workout and training regimen, to develop the stamina and techniques required for the sport.

It is not enough that they have big muscles! They need to stay active, eat cleanly, and prepare their bodies for the weight class they are fighting in.

Typically, a professional boxer’s training schedule consists of:

cardio (e.g. running and skipping)
strength and conditioning training (e.g. doing deadlifts and chest press sets)
speed and agility training (e.g. box jumps)
boxing drills (e.g. punch, jab and hook combinations)
heavy bag work
focus pad work
Speedball practice
sparring
shadow boxing
calisthenics (e.g. push-ups and neck bridges)
weight lifting
stretches
yoga
ice baths, cryotherapy and massages
plenty of rest and recovery time

To prepare for his February 2023 bout against Tommy Fury, Jake Paul’s training routine included a seven-mile jog with wind sprints, heavy sparring sessions, shadow boxing, and core training.

Meanwhile, Tommy’s gruelling training camp included advanced skipping drills, heavy pad work, intense sparring, circuit training, and weights.

Mike ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson also had an impressive training regimen. Typically, his workout routine would involve:

2000 sit-ups
500-800 dips
500 press-ups
500 shrugs with a 30kg barbell
10 minutes of neck rolls on a folded towel (to improve his neck strength and reduce the chances of him getting knocked out during a fight).

How do pro boxers lose weight?

Weight cutting is a process where pro boxers quickly lose weight in order to gain a considerable advantage over their opponents. If done correctly, this means they can move down to a lower weight class, while remaining as big as physically possible.

To shed those last few pounds, a pro boxer will:

intensify their workout routines.
eat very strictly, choosing protein-rich foods that will keep them full for longer.
drink several litres of water a day.
decrease their water consumption in the days leading up to the fight, which dehydrates their body temporarily and keeps their weight down.
sweat out the fluids by sitting in a sauna or by wearing a sauna suit.

Where can I buy boxing gloves?

Here at Sports Maxx, we are proud to offer all the essentials you will need for boxing training, whether you are a newbie to the sport or an experienced boxer.

Read on to discover a few of our favourite boxing equipment pieces:

Gloves for Boxing and Sparring

Our Maxx Boxing / Sparring Gloves will do just the trick for your boxing and sparring needs.

Used by beginners and professionals alike, these boxing gloves are excellent for hitting a punch bag, focus pads, for sparring, and even for competitions and matches.

If your child fancies themselves as the next Tyson Fury or Nicola Adams, then these gloves are perfect for their little hands, as they are available in the sizes 4oz to 8oz!

Adults can also use these classic gloves, which come up to the size 16oz.

Click here to shop our Maxx Boxing / Sparring Gloves.

Gloves for Kickboxing

Do you need a terrific piece of equipment for kickboxing training?

Then, look no further than our Maxx Boxing 1 Pair Thai Kick Boxing Strike Pad & Gloves.

This training set includes a durable Curved Arm Pad and Rex Leather Gel Boxing Gloves, which are sleek accessories to unlock your full potential both in and out of the boxing ring!

The slick gloves offer amazing protection and comfort for your hands and wrists, while the strike pad feels lightweight, but is durable enough to take the most powerful of hits and kicks.

You can choose the glove size from 6oz (for children), all the way to 16oz (for adults).

Click here to shop our Maxx Boxing 1 Pair Thai Kick Boxing Strike Pad & Gloves.

Hand Wraps

Hand wraps protect your wrist, knuckles and thumbs when you are boxing. They also help reduce the fatigue that comes with a strong punch.

Warming up with some light bag work, while only wearing hand wraps, is perfectly fine.

But don’t be tempted to ignore the hand wraps and start punching the bag with your bare fists. This could cause serious hand pain and injuries. You might end up using the incorrect form, which will throw you off.

If you can’t be bothered to spend five minutes wrapping your hands, we recommend practising some shadowboxing in front of a mirror instead.