As a rule of thumb, you can often find a great brand by looking at what professional fighters are using. Boxing matches can be decided by the slightest of margins, and pros take great care to minimize the risk of external factors affecting their performance. For pros, this means being in top fighting shape and wearing the right gear. Pros are, of course, paid to promote certain brands, but both will generally tend to match each other’s styles. This means that pros will often work with the brands that develop gear that suits their profiles and maximizes their advantage in the ring. So, what gloves are preferred by the pros? Are these gloves any good? What boxing gloves does Manny Pacquiao wear? We explore the most popular gloves for professional fighters in greater detail.
How to find the best gloves for your needs
The most popular gloves for professionals might be too high end for your budget. If you are looking for a pair of boxing gloves, you could look into a few key features that will help you find a value pick at a price point of interest. Here is a breakdown of what to explore to find the best gloves for your needs.
Material and craftsmanship
The quality of build will dictate the durability of your gloves, provided you maintain them as recommended. You could go for synthetic options to help you get started, but genuine leather gloves will last longer and could offer better value.
Padding and protection
Boxing gloves are designed to absorb impact and reduce the risk of injury to your hands and wrists. This makes the quality of padding a key consideration for fighters at any level. Whether you are planning to face the heavyweight champion or training on a heavy bag at home, your gloves should offer sufficient padding to minimize any chance of injury.
Comfort and breathability
Your glove care will have a direct influence on their durability. It is important that you follow these steps to minimize the risk of damage to your gloves and extend their lifespan.
- Always clean your gloves after use.
- Special cleaning agents and deodorizers will be key for effective maintenance.
- Keep some stuffing in your gloves to absorb any moisture you may have missed.
- Never expose your gloves to direct sunlight or heat to dry them out quickly.
- Wear hand wraps and wash your hands before using your gloves.
The most popular gloves used by the professionals
All gloves look the same, with a supporting wrist strap and bulbous body over your hand, right? Wrong! To the casual observer, boxing gloves are just that. But gloves will be very different, and may be better suited for some type of fighters over others. The subtle differences between gloves could help enhance the fine margins by which boxing matches can be decided. So, which are the most popular picks for professional fighters and how do they compare?
Cleto Reyes
When Muhammad Ali lost to Leon Spinks in Las Vegas in 1978, a lot of attention was placed on his gloves. The Mexico City based family business was relatively unknown at the time, which raised some interest. Ali may have lost that fight, but the puncher’s glove never looked back. Now a worldwide brand, Cleto Reyes is an acclaimed choice for many fighters. The high quality of build and lighter padding allows punchers to get into their element on fight night. They have famously been used by Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, Kelly Pavlik and Amir Khan.
Rival
Rival are a recent brand, but are quickly picking up popularity. They do not have an impressive roster as Cleto Reyes, with only a handful of top level fighters such as Jean Pascal preferring these gloves. However, they are very well made, and strike a great balance between padded protection and power.
Grant
Grant gloves will wrap around your hands and offer some of the best support for any option on the market. They are comfortable and firm, allowing for padded protection without being too pillow-like. These gloves are also very well made, which might explain the higher end pricing. They have been popularly worn by Floyd Mayweather, the Klitschkos, Bernard Hopkins, Tim Bradley and Julio Cesar Chaves Jr.
Everlast
You have to be doing something right to stay active and popular for over a century, and Everlast have done just that. The gloves strike a great balance for power and protection, although they are not as firm as Grant gloves or as minimalist in the padding as Cleto Reyes gloves. They have been used by Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios, Deontay Wilder and Miguel Cotto.
Winning
The Japan-made gloves are popular for their consistency and quality, with these gloves being very durable as well. The gloves offer the best hand protection of any options on the market, and may end up being too pillow-like as a result. For fighters looking to maximize the level of protection, Winning gloves are an unbeatable choice. They are not used too frequently in fights due to the lower power, but have popularly been worn by Erik Morales and Canelo Alvarez. Before his switch, even Floyd Mayweather donned these gloves!
Final word
What boxing gloves does Manny Pacquiao wear? The boxing legend donned Cleto Reyes boxing gloves to his matches through his illustrious career, including on famous nights such as when he beat the previously undefeated Keith Thurman to become the WBA welterweight champion of the world. While a little higher end when compared to other options, Cleto Reyes gloves will offer great value for your needs.
The brand delivers a high quality pair of boxing gloves, and will tend to make most curated lists of the best options on the market for a selection of needs. If you are looking to buy boxing gloves, you could join Manny Pacquiao in embracing the high quality gloves that will live up to your expectations every time. If these gloves are out of your budget, or if you are interested in a starter pair to help you grow into your future picks, our detailed breakdown on what to look for in an ideal pair of gloves should help you work around the large range of options available.
