A women’s boxing guide: 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz or 16 oz – selecting the right glove for you (2024)

FAQs

Should I get 10 oz or 12 oz gloves? ›

A 10oz glove will be appropriate for someone with smaller hands looking to hone techniques. 12oz- A size up, 12oz see more common use for pads.

The general competition rules is for light heavyweight, and heavy weight fighters to use 10oz gloves and for any weight less, 8 oz gloves can be used but there have been recorded instances when gloves up to 20oz have been utilized.

A: The difference in the gloves is the amount of padding and protection for both your hands and the opponent you are punching at. Obviously a 16oz glove will offer more protection and therefore hit with much less power than a 14oz glove.

For hitting pads or a heavy bag, using 10 oz gloves, or 12 oz gloves are your best options. The lighter glove weight, typically referred to as "bag gloves," allows you to work on delivering your punches with speed without sacrificing hand protection.

Heavier weight also equals more energy required! Using a pair of 16oz boxing gloves will give you a much harder workout in comparison to a 12oz pair of boxing gloves for example.

The use of 14 oz boxing gloves may be used for sparring by junior boxers – but this choice is often at the coach's discretion. Training in these gloves regularly may help to increase speed and power output of a boxer. Using heavier boxing loves may also help junior and lighter boxers to build strength and endurance.

The Average male fighter uses 14oz gloves for training, while the average female fighter would use a size 10oz to 12oz. For other body shapes, you will need to select smaller or larger gloves as appropriate. In professional fights, the average fighter uses gloves of about 8oz to 10oz.

8oz gloves fit perfectly. 8oz is perfect to hit precision mitts. However, if you use 8oz gloves for heavy bag, definitely use handwrap to add extra protections for your knuckles. Lastly, don't use 8oz to spar with your partner.

What size boxing gloves should women use? In general, 12 oz and 16 oz gloves are the go-to for punching bag workouts.

100-125 lbs: 10 oz boxing gloves. 125-150 lbs: 12 oz boxing gloves. 150-175 lbs: 14 oz boxing gloves. 175+ lbs: 16 oz boxing gloves.

How do I know what size boxing gloves to get? ›

The heavier you are, the bigger your gloves should be. If you weigh less than 126 pounds, buy 12- or 14-ounce gloves. If you're 127 to 160 pounds, use 14- to 16-ounce gloves and if you're 161 to 180 pounds, use 16- to 18-ounce gloves. If you weigh more than 180 pounds, 18-ounce gloves are appropriate.

Depending on hand size and weight, 10-16 oz. junior gloves may be perfect for children anywhere in the 8-14 year range, and for children younger than 8 years old, 6-8 oz.

16 oz are very big, very heavy gloves with a lot of thickness on and around the fist. Originally they were made for very heavy weight fighters that had powerful punches and big hands. Today 16 oz are the go-to gloves for sparring in many gyms, because it is assumed that more padding = safer.

Your gloves should fit snug but not constricting, and should cover the end of your fingertips without much extra room. A leather glove should fit your hand like a leather jacket fits your body—snug, but not super tight.

Why heavier and lighter gloves than in competition? The heavier gloves develop greater force production (strength), albeit at a slightly slower rate than needed, whereas the lighter gloves train the muscles to contract at faster rate than possible with a regular weight glove.

While 16oz boxing gloves add more resistance to your ability to throw a punch, a 16oz glove with a thin layer of knuckle padding can still hurt your opponent and your hands.

It is worth noting that the best boxing gloves size for beginners is between 14 oz. and 16 oz.

As a beginner, you should focus on lightweight training gloves in the 12-14 oz range. These gloves are optimal for anyone between 120 and 200+ lbs. At this stage, your main concern is comfort and mobility.

Can I use 10 oz gloves on a punch bag? ›

A 10oz glove will be appropriate for someone with smaller hands looking to sharpen techniques. They are a great choice for hitting pads and heavy bags.

Boxing glove sizes are typically sold in 2oz intervals. 2 ounces may not sound like much, but for each increase in glove size, that essentially means an extra 2 ounces of padding in front of each knuckle, which makes a noticeable difference when punching. Most brands sell 10oz, 12oz, 14oz and 16oz.

Are boxing gloves supposed to be tight? Boxing gloves need to fit snuggly enough to stay in place and not shift around, though not so tight that they cut off circulation or “squeeze” the hand.

10 oz gloves are the best boxing gloves for heavy bag workouts while 14, 16, 18, and 20 oz gloves are the best boxing gloves for sparring. As the size is determined by the amount of padding inside the boxing glove, a heavier weight means your hand will have more protection, but will also slow down your punching speed.

Fighters older than 40 usually use 16-ounce gloves in competitive contests, though in his prime, Mike Tyson's partners insisted the champion wear 18-ounce gloves so they would be better protected from his punches.

The Size used in a professional boxing match is usually 10 ounces. For the purposes of training and bag work, then the standard sizes are 12 ounces, 14 ounces, and 16 ounces. If you are looking for more protection, then a heavier glove is where you need to look.

Do boxers fight with 10 oz gloves? ›

Question: What size gloves do I have to wear in competition? Athletes (boxers/kick boxers) weighing-in up to and including 135 pounds must wear 8 oz gloves in competition, while athletes weighing-in over 135 pounds (junior welterweight class and above) must wear 10 oz gloves in competition.

The type of gloves that is purchased is determined by a person's weight: 8oz – 10oz: Common for competitive boxers who compete in main events. 12oz: Common for women and those with small hands for training. 14oz – 16oz: Common for people of the average size used for training.

When opponents are close to the same weight, the determining factor in the outcome of the match is usually skill, not size. That said, size can still be a factor. If two opponents are evenly matched and one is slightly bigger than the other, that person may have an advantage.

10oz: Thinly padded glove, good for light pad work. 12oz: Slightly more padding, good for pad work and bag work. 14oz: An all-round training glove, good for pad work, bag work and light sparring.

A simple method to determine the size of the glove you'll need is to measure the circumference of your dominant hand, just below the knuckles. Once you have your measurement use the chart below to determine your size.

You want to make sure the gloves feel comfortable and have the right amount of padding and support. Beyond that, there isn't much else to think about. As a beginner, you should focus on lightweight training gloves in the 12-14 oz range.

No, heavier boxing gloves hurt less. Because heavier boxing gloves are made of more padding foam. They are specifically designed to better soften the blow of a hard hit.

Fighters older than 40 usually use 16-ounce gloves in competitive contests, though in his prime, Mike Tyson's partners insisted the champion wear 18-ounce gloves so they would be better protected from his punches.

Is 16 oz boxing gloves too heavy? ›

16 oz are very big, very heavy gloves with a lot of thickness on and around the fist. Originally they were made for very heavy weight fighters that had powerful punches and big hands. Today 16 oz are the go-to gloves for sparring in many gyms, because it is assumed that more padding = safer.