Differences between boxing gloves or MMA gloves

Fighters often wonder which gloves they should be using; boxing gloves or MMA gloves. One thing everyone should be clear about is that boxing and MMA are two very different fighting styles, MMA includes certain boxing skills and moves, but is inherently very different from boxing. As such, they usually require different gear to train with. Fighters also need to consider what they are getting gloves for? Are they practicing MMA, learning some boxing skills, or are they looking to work on the heavy bag and/ or focus pads in order to develop good form?

For most fighters, the hand is the single most common body part to get injured. As much as one-third of all boxing injuries are of the hand. It is vital that you are clear about what you want to train for and then decide whether you need boxing gloves or MMA gloves. Even if you need boxing gloves, there are various types of boxing gloves that will be most suitable for you depending on the activity you wish to focus on. Below let’s look at some key differences between boxing gloves or MMA gloves.

Fingertips

The most distinct difference between boxing gloves or MMA gloves is that MMA gloves have open fingertips. In boxing a fighter’s main form of offense is different variation of closed fist punches. However, in MMA, a fighter draws from various fighting conventions that would require him to have his hands free to perform takedowns, execute submission locks or grapple, requiring his fingers to be free to do so.

Padding

Boxing gloves in comparison to MMA gloves have much more padding. It is true that there are different types so boxing gloves with varying degree of padding depending on the activity performed but the boxing glove with the least amount of padding still has more padding than a MMA glove.

Whether you are looking for boxing gloves or MMA gloves, it is important to understand that as a fighter, your hands are your greatest weapon. So protecting them is of the utmost importance. Thereby it is important to consider all differences and characteristics among boxing gloves or MMA gloves and then decide which is most appropriate for you.

How Heavy Are Boxing Gloves

Boxing gloves are perhaps the most important gear for a boxer. They are beneficial in many ways. They distribute the pressure on your hands, protect your hands and wrists from any injury and also reduce the risk of blisters and calluses. If you have a right pair of gloves on your hand while fighting, you will be able to generate harder and more powerful punches. Boxing gloves are available in various types varying in size and weight. In this article, we will discuss the factors that can affect their weight and the range of their size. Read on.

Before knowing the available sizes of gloves, have a look on the factors that can affect their weight.

Material used – Boxing gloves are made of variety of materials and they can affect their weight as well. Gloves made of heavy material are heavier than the ones made of light material.

Padding in the gloves – Some types of gloves have padding in them to provide shock absorption and protect your hands from injury. This adds a little weight to the entire weight of gloves.

Aforementioned are the important factors that affect gloves’ weight.

Basically, gloves are divided into three main types depending on their size that affects their weight too. These include:

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     Have a look on detailed distribution of gloves on the basis of their size.

• 8 oz gloves – these gloves are usually used in fighting.
• 10 oz gloves – they are usually used in training while hitting heavy bags and pads. They are not suitable for sparring because they don’t have enough padding. They are perfect for those who have small hands.
• 12 oz gloves – they are usually used as training gloves.
• 14 oz gloves – they are the most commonly used gloves. They are slightly lighter than 16 oz gloves and therefore do not cause tiredness. They can be used for sparring as well because they have padding.
• 16 oz goves – they are the standard sparring gloves. They are suitable for individuals with heavy weight but can also be used by light weight fighters.
• 18 oz gloves – they are not as common as other types are because they are specifically designed for largest men. They are heavier than other gloves but are padded and can be used for sparring.

Bottom line

Boxing gloves are available in a number of types and vary in weight and sizes. You should select the pair according to your activity and your specific goals.