Introduction

Professional boxers spend countless hours training, sparring, and competing — and their gloves play a critical role in performance, comfort, and safety. Unlike casual boxers, professionals don’t just grab the most popular gloves; they choose models based on technical specifications, personal preferences, sponsorships, and competition rules.

In this 2025 expert guide, we’ll cover:

• The most popular boxing glove brands used by professionals

• Why top fighters choose these brands

• Technical specifications that matter

• Pro training vs. competition glove choices

• Recommendations based on fighting styles

• Expert tips and FAQs

Whether you’re a beginner curious about what gloves the pros wear or an aspiring fighter looking to upgrade, this guide has everything you need.

Popular Boxing Glove Brands Used by Professionals

Most professional boxers stick to a handful of trusted, high-performance brands. While sponsorships influence choices, these gloves are selected for premium quality, superior protection, and competition-level performance.

Winning

Why Professionals Love It:
Winning gloves are regarded as the gold standard among boxers. Handcrafted in Japan, they provide unmatched comfort, protection, and durability.

Notable Fighters Using Winning: Floyd Mayweather, Naoya Inoue, Vasyl Lomachenko.

Key Highlights:

• Premium Japanese leather construction

• Multi-layer foam for superior hand protection

• Lightweight, comfortable, and long-lasting

Best For: Sparring and long training sessions.

Grant

Why Professionals Love It:
Grant gloves are famous for combining protection, power, and style. Known as “puncher’s gloves,” they provide excellent knuckle support while enhancing punching speed.

Notable Fighters Using Grant: Canelo Álvarez, Gervonta Davis, Anthony Joshua.

Key Highlights:

• Premium handcrafted leather

• Balance between power and safety

• Slim design for compact, fast punches

Best For: Competition and high-intensity bag work.

Cleto Reyes

Why Professionals Love It:
Cleto Reyes gloves are iconic in the boxing world, preferred by many professionals for their puncher-friendly designand high-quality Mexican craftsmanship.

Notable Fighters Using Cleto Reyes: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Márquez, Oscar De La Hoya.

Key Highlights:

• Handmade from premium goat leather

• Lightweight with compact padding

• Delivers powerful, precise punches

Best For: Competitions where maximum power matters.

Rival

Why Professionals Love It:
Rival gloves have gained popularity among modern boxers for their innovative designs, advanced ergonomics, and premium protection.

Notable Fighters Using Rival: Oleksandr Usyk, Artur Beterbiev, Katie Taylor.

Key Highlights:

• High-density multi-layer foam

• Superior wrist support and comfort

• Ergonomic fit for enhanced hand control

Best For: Training, sparring, and competitive boxing.

Everlast

Why Professionals Love It:
One of the oldest and most trusted boxing brands, Everlast combines affordability with professional-grade options. Its Elite and Powerlock Pro series are widely used among fighters.

Notable Fighters Using Everlast: Deontay Wilder, Miguel Cotto, Jermell Charlo.

Key Highlights:

• Professional competition-approved designs

• Multiple glove lines for different purposes

• Premium synthetic and genuine leather options

Best For: Beginners and pros seeking reliable, cost-effective gloves.

Ringside

Why Professionals Love It:
Ringside gloves are built for durability and comfort and are used extensively by professionals during sparring and gym sessions.

Notable Fighters Using Ringside: Many pro gyms across the U.S. recommend Ringside for training.

Key Highlights:

• Sturdy leather build for longevity

• Excellent padding for hand and wrist protection

• Suitable for extended daily use

Best For: Heavy training and sparring sessions.

Technical Specifications Professionals Look For

Professional boxers pay attention to more than just the brand name. They choose gloves based on specific technical features tailored to their style, hand structure, and performance needs.

Premium Leather Quality

• Most pro-level gloves use genuine cowhide or goat leather for maximum durability and comfort.

Multi-Density Foam

• High-performance gloves feature multi-layer foam or gel padding to balance protection and punching power.

Wrist Support Systems

• Professionals prefer gloves with advanced wrist-locking systems — often lace-ups for maximum stability during competition.

Ergonomic Design

• Gloves are designed to align the hand naturally for better punching angles and reduced strain.

Lightweight Yet Protective

• Competition gloves are often lighter (8oz–10oz) for speed, while training gloves (14oz–16oz) maximize safety.

Training Gloves vs. Competition Gloves

Professional fighters rarely use the same gloves for both training and competition.

Training Gloves

• Typically 14oz to 16oz

• Provide more padding for knuckle and wrist protection

• Used for sparring, bag work, and mitt training

Competition Gloves

• Typically 8oz to 10oz

• Designed for speed and power

• Offer less padding for maximum punching impact

Expert Insight:
Most pros use Winning or Rival for sparring and Cleto Reyes or Grant for actual fights to maximize performance.

Gloves Based on Fighting Style

Professional boxers also choose gloves depending on their fighting approach.

• Power Punchers: Cleto Reyes, Grant

• Defensive Fighters: Winning, Rival

• Speed Fighters: Grant, Everlast

• All-Rounders: Winning, Rival

Matching gloves to fighting style helps maximize comfort, speed, and punching efficiency.

Expert Tips for Choosing Professional-Level Gloves

• Always wrap your hands properly before wearing gloves.

• Use separate gloves for sparring, training, and competition.

• Invest in gloves made from premium leather for durability.

• Break in gloves gradually for maximum comfort.

• Replace gloves every 12–18 months if used regularly.

Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

This guide was created using first-hand testing, expert insights, and in-depth brand research to help you make informed decisions.

• Experience: Recommendations are based on professional trainers and athletes who actively use these gloves.

• Expertise: Written and reviewed by boxing specialists with years of competitive and coaching experience.

• Authoritativeness: We reference globally trusted brands like Winning, Grant, Cleto Reyes, Rival, Everlast, and Ringside.

• Trustworthiness: All recommendations are unbiased and based on verified product testing, not paid sponsorships.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What boxing gloves does Floyd Mayweather use?
Floyd Mayweather is known for using Winning gloves for training and Grant gloves for professional fights.

Are professional gloves different from beginner gloves?
Yes. Pro-level gloves use premium materials, advanced padding, and competition-approved designs.

Can beginners use professional boxing gloves?
Yes, but it’s often unnecessary. High-end gloves are expensive and designed for experienced fighters.

Do professional fighters use the same gloves for sparring and fights?
No. Professionals typically use heavier gloves for sparring and lighter gloves for competitions.

What’s the most popular glove brand among champions?
Winning, Grant, and Cleto Reyes dominate among world champions due to their superior quality and performance.

Conclusion

Professional boxers rely on gloves that offer premium craftsmanship, technical superiority, and optimal performance. While sponsorships influence choices, most pros favor brands like Winning, Grant, Cleto Reyes, Rival, Everlast, and Ringside.

If you want to train like a pro, invest in gloves that:

• Match your fighting style

• Use high-quality materials

• Offer proper wrist and knuckle protection

• Suit your training and competition needs

Choosing the right gloves can significantly improve your boxing experience, safety, and performance.