Ensuring you have the appropriate equipment and body protection for any sport is imperative and especially so for a sport as physically intensive as boxing. In boxing, your body (hands in-particular) are your only shield, which is why protecting them is KEY. Prior to boxing gloves, boxers would only use leather wraps or bands, but in most cases just their bare hands (ouch). Due to this, matches were far shorter, and injuries were quite obviously far more common. These days the most common injury is a black eye, which in the scheme of things is not that bad at all. Whether you are a professional or an amateur, the importance of boxing gloves never, ever diminishes. In saying this, read on as we list the top five reasons you absolutely NEED boxing gloves.
#1: Hand, finger, and wrist protection
First and most obvious; for the protection of hands and fingers. Not only does the padding in boxing gloves helps to soften blows from punches but it also makes it easy to land a punch without hurting your hand amidst such crazy force. Without gloves, boxers are at higher risk of hand breakages and finger joint displacement, which can lead to serious injury and consequently time away from boxing (something no lover of boxing EVER wants). In more serious cases, constant breakages of the hand can even lead to a shortened career. In short, boxing gloves drastically increase the safety of boxing, making it much more enjoyable for family members watching on the side-lines…oh and the boxers.
#2 Better blows
Boxing gloves increase the surface area of a boxer’s hand making for more accurate blows. This applies for competition level boxing as well as for those casually participating in boxing as a form of exercise. With boxing gloves, punch combinations can be executed more easily against a punching bag. By punches coming off smoothly and accurately, it will ultimately result in a more beneficial exercise and over time a more toned body…what more could you want?
#3 Safety of your opponent
It may seem like a catch-22, BUT do not forget that you too are viewed as an opponent in someone else’s eyes, so this applies to you also. There is a big difference between being hit with bare hands compared to cushioned gloves. Without boxing gloves, not only would matches be shorter, but there would be far more injuries…not entertaining right? Gloves protect against damage to all parts of the body, but particularly the more delicate and fragile parts such as the face and eyes. With boxing gloves, blows can hold the same force but not injure as intensely since the gloves help disperse the impact of a blow. Remember…protecting your opponent is also protecting yourself.
#4 Grip
During boxing, it is no lie that EVERYTHING gets a little bit sweaty, and our hands are no exception. Boxing gloves are designed with a range of features to assist in keeping perspiration to a minimum and grip to a maximum. Some of these helpful features include but are not limited to; punched holes, breathable mesh and sweat absorbent thumbs. Punched holes are simply holes that are often punched directly into the leather on the palm of the glove or the insides of the thumb or fingers. Many boxers will often talk about the importance of using gloves with breathable mesh. Not only does it let air flow through for maximum comfort, but it also helps to combat perspiration. Not found as often, but still beneficial is sweat-absorbent thumbs. This feature is great for quickly wiping off sweat when training or competing, without needing to go fetch a towel; a time saver for sure. The combination of these features work together to allow airflow through and to keep your hands cool, plus help the gloves remain dry.
#5 Overall stability
Different to our hands, boxing gloves remain in the same firm, curved finger position always. When made with extremely high-quality material, this design and positioning offers exceptional stability and allows boxers to showcase their ability and skills more freely. Better stability of fingers, knuckles, wrists, etc allows boxers to better execute punches, making for perhaps a more successful match…Stability is also important when receiving blows from opponents. If your hands are stable in your boxing gloves, then you are better equipped to receive a blow or block a strike and then react accordingly. In boxing, you will find being stable throughout your hands is just as important as being stable on your feet.
So there you have it, five reasons as to why you NEED boxing gloves. To protect yourself, your opponent and the longevity of the sport of boxing itself. There is far less blood, very little torn flesh, and hardly any broken bones. Longer matches, better matches, and an overall better sport, thanks to the invention that is; boxing gloves.
