Boxing Gloves

Before Boxing Gloves

The sport of boxing can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. It probably originated from hand to hand combat. Early fights did not utilize gloves, just a simple leather straps around the hands with no padding in them, or sometimes even bare hands were used. Boxing without gloves meant bloodier fights with more serious injuries.
Documented first in 1681, bare-knuckle boxing was very popular in England. As a result of serious injuries and fatalities, rules were developed for the sport, and England emerged as a pioneer for boxing as a professional activity.

How Gloves Changed Boxing

Before boxing gloves were popular, matches were relatively short and often resulted in numerous injuries. Over time, bare-knuckle boxing was viewed as a form of assault rather than a sporting event. In 1867, a set of rules for boxing were published that caused the sport to change slightly. The rules required that opponents be fairly similar in size, time constraints known as rounds were introduced, and the use of gloves was also implemented.

Gloves are useful in boxing for a number of reasons. First and foremost they protect a fighter from injuries to the face and hands. They can also be used to protect a boxer and absorb impact, making it difficult for an opponent to deliver forceful punches resulting in a knock out. Less use of the forearms for defensive reasons is required with boxing gloves. Boxing matches were longer after the introduction of gloves since fighters could deliver and receive more blows. As a result of longer matches boxing strategy developed greater importance.

Modern Boxing Gloves

Many variations in boxing gloves exist. The size and weight of boxing gloves varies greatly. Lighter gloves allow boxers to deliver fast and forceful blows, often carrying heavy damages as well. A heavy glove slows down the speed of a punch, inflicting much less damage on the fighter who receives it. Wide gloves spread the force of punches over a larger area, and therefore decrease the likelihood of an injury. Narrow gloves channel the force of a blow into a small concentrated area, inflicting more damage. Amateur fighters have colored patches on the end of their gloves, indicating the area it is acceptable to use when striking their opponent. In modern bouts, boxers determine the weight and brand of glove to be used prior to engaging in a fight.