Here are the weights of boxing gloves used by professionals:
- 8oz Gloves (Lightest)
- 10oz Gloves
- 12oz Gloves
- 14oz Gloves
- 16oz Gloves (Heaviest)
Many beginner boxers have asked me which gloves they should buy. The answer to this question depends on what you want to use the gloves for. The weight category they are in decides their usage, and I have written this article to serve as a guide for this.
There are a few weight classes in boxing that fall into the professional category. The most common weight class for professional boxers is between 8oz and 10oz. This weight range is ideal for most fighters as it provides good balance, speed, power, and accuracy.
Gloves in this range typically consist of leather and neoprene materials with reinforced thumbs and fingers. They are also designed to protect the hands while delivering maximum punches.
Professional boxers often spar before their fights to improve their techniques and conditioning. This can mean they need gloves that can take a lot of punishment, such as those in the 12-16oz range.
Table of Contents
Weights of Boxing Gloves and Their Usage
Here are some of the most commonly used boxing gloves, their suitable weight class, speed, comfort, and whether they are ideal for bag work and sparring.
Summary table of professional boxing gloves by weight:
| 8oz | 10oz | 12oz | 14oz | 16oz | |
| Pro Fighter Weight | 105-155lb | >155lb | Not for matches | Not for matches | Not for matches |
| Pro Weight Class | – Fly
– Bantam – Feather – Light – Welter |
– Middle
– Cruiser – Heavy |
Not for matches | Not for matches | Not for matches |
| Impact | Highest | High | Average | Low | Low |
| Speed | Highest | High | Average | Low | Low |
| Comfort | Comfortable | Comfortable | Average | Average | Average |
| Bag work | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Sparring | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
8oz Gloves (Lightest)
8 oz gloves are used by boxers in the 105lb and 155lb range. They have the least padding, meaning faster and harder hitting punches. The lower weight makes them great for bag work. However, they aren’t ideal for sparring as they don’t provide enough protection.
Suitable Weight Class
For use in matches, 8 oz gloves can be used by boxers in the 105-155lbs range. This means they can be used by Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight boxers.
For bag work, 8 oz can be used for 105lb – 130lb meaning they can be used by Flyweight, Bantamweight, and Featherweight boxers.
8 oz gloves are suitable for matches as well as bag work.
Impact On Hit
8 oz gloves hit quite hard and hurt the most because they’re the lightest and have the least protection for professional fights. This weight protects the hands while allowing fighters to throw punches with enough force to cause damage.
Speed
Speed is excellent with 8 oz gloves. They are much lighter than other gloves. Because these gloves are more lightweight and have less padding, they help you punch faster. With an 8 Oz glove, you hardly even notice that you are wearing one, increasing your hand speed significantly.
Comfort
8 oz gloves are generally comfortable, making them an ideal choice for athletes who want to wear gloves all day. They are also affordable, making them a good option for those who want to invest in quality boxing gear.
Bag Work
It is a good idea to use 8 oz gloves for bag work as you can feel the impact on your knuckles, but it’s more suitable for someone smaller and lighter, so they won’t hurt themselves. You must get heavier gloves to protect your hands if someone is heavier.
Related article: 8 Differences Between Sparring Vs Training Vs Bag Gloves
Sparring
You should not use 8 oz gloves for sparring as they do not provide enough protection, and the hands are much sharper.
By sparring with these gloves, you will end up hurting your opponent, causing a serious injury. Therefore, sparring with 8 oz gloves is not a good idea.
Light gloves have less padding. It should only be used for bag work or actual matches.
10 oz Gloves
The 10 oz gloves are used by boxers above 155lb in professional boxing matches. They have lesser padding, which makes them smaller and much faster.
The 10oz gloves are comfortable for long-time wear and also for bag work. These gloves aren’t well suited for sparring.
Suitable Weight Class
For use in matches, 10 oz gloves can be used by boxers above the 155lbs range. This means they can be used by Middleweight, Cruiserweight, and Heavyweight boxers.
For bag work, 10 oz can be used for 130lb and above, meaning they can be used by Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Cruiserweight, and Heavyweight boxers.
10 oz gloves are suitable for matches as well as bag work.
Impact On Hit
Getting hit by 10 oz gloves is hard and painful but still less impactful than an 8 oz glove because it has more protection and padding.
This is why heavier weight classes use 10 oz instead of 8 oz in professional boxing matches. Heavier fighters are bigger in size and will punch harder. Therefore, we need more protection.
Speed
You can still punch fast and accurately with 10 oz gloves. Most pro boxing matches use gloves of up to 10 oz. This is because 10 oz is comfortable to wear and use, and they are not heavy enough to make you lose speed.
Comfort
10 oz gloves are comfortable, especially for pro boxing matches. These gloves are comfortable for a long time as they are not heavy and can help you punch faster. You can use 10 oz gloves in the long matches that could last up to 12 rounds.
Bag Work
The most popular size of gloves for heavy bag workouts is 10 oz. They can be used for heavier fighters about 130 lbs and above bag work. These gloves are not recommended for light fighters.
Sparring
You should not use 10 oz gloves for sparring and practicing, as they do not have enough padding and protection for your opponent. If you have smaller hands and want to refine your skills, a 10 oz glove will be suitable.
Related article: 9 Key Differences Between MMA Glove Vs Boxing Gloves
Make sure you don’t use light gloves like 8 or 10oz for sparring. It doesn’t have enough protection for you and your opponent.
12 Oz Gloves
12 oz gloves are not used in matches or sparring but are more often used for bag work to strike a balance between weight and padding. Their speed is less than 8 oz and 10 oz gloves, and they have less padding than 14 oz and 16 oz gloves.
Suitable Weight Class
12 oz gloves are not used in matches. However, there are a few amateur boxing organizations that allow the use of 12 oz gloves.
For bag work, 12 oz can be used for 175lb and above, meaning they can be used by Heavyweight boxers.
12 oz gloves are a bit too heavy for bag work and matches and are a little too light for sparring, which means that these gloves usually see the least use. They are often used as multi-purpose gloves for beginners.
Impact On Hit
The 12 oz glove still hurts on impact, but it is less painful than the 8 oz and 10 oz gloves. It is not ideal for sparring. However, for beginners who only want to buy one pair of gloves, the 12 oz can be used and will be effective in training.
Speed
12 oz speed is average and is less than 8 oz and 10 oz gloves. They are not as quick and not ideal for long matches. They are a bit heavy and will slow you down compared to 8 oz gloves.
Bag Work
The 12 oz gloves are usually worn by beginners and heavier fighters who need just one multi-purpose glove. These are too heavy for effective bag work and will be slower than 8 oz gloves. With 12 oz gloves, you will not feel a strong punch because of their heavy padding.
Sparring
I don’t recommend 12 oz gloves for sparring as they do not provide enough protection for your opponent. They can be used by beginners who only need one multi-purpose glove, but these gloves, while sparring, should be used under supervision.
Related article: 7 Reasons Why Boxing & Punching Bag Without Gloves Are Bad
14 Oz Gloves
14 oz gloves aren’t used in professional matches as they are padded, making them heavy. They are slower than other boxing gloves and are generally too heavy for bag work. These are ideal for sparring due to their thicker padding.
Suitable Weight Class
14 oz gloves are not used in professional-level matches due to their bulky nature. However, some amateur boxing organizations use 14 oz gloves.
For sparring, 14 oz can be used by boxers in the 105lb-155lb range, meaning they can be used by Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight boxers.
14 oz gloves are suitable for sparring.
Impact On Hit
14 oz gloves hit much softer than 8 oz, 10 oz, and 12 oz gloves. They are less painful because of their thick padding and provide extra protection. These gloves will slow you down, which will result in slower punches. These are more suitable for sparring to protect yourself and your opponent.
Speed
14 oz gloves are slower than other gloves. They will slow you down as they have heavy padding. It is not ideal to use these gloves for lightweight fighters. The heavier fighters, between 150 to 175 lbs, can use these gloves with less effort.
Bag Work
These gloves are too heavy because of their thick padding. The 14 oz gloves will make you slower, and you will not be able to feel the punch in your hands. That is why using these gloves for bag work is not recommended.
Sparring
When you deliver those strong hits, your partner will be protected by the greater quantity of padding in these gloves. 14 oz and even larger gloves, depending on your size, may be suitable for general use.
These can be used by lighter fighters for sparring and will protect you and your opponent due to their thick padding.
16 Oz Gloves (Heaviest)
16 oz gloves are generally not used in professional matches as they are too heavy. However, they are used by boxers who are above 155lb. They have a lot of padding, which means lighter hits, making them slow.
Suitable Weight Class
16 oz gloves are not used in professional-level matches as they are too heavy.
For sparring, 16 oz can be used by boxers that are 155lb or above, meaning they can be used by Middleweight, Cruiserweight, and Heavyweight boxers. They can be worn by lightweight boxers, and sparring sessions are usually shorter.
16 oz gloves are suitable for sparring.
Impact On Hit
10 oz gloves are light on hit and will not hurt much because they have a lot of protection. They are heavier and thicker than other gloves because they have the thickest padding. Hence, it is recommended to not use these gloves for lightweight fighters.
Speed
White-collar fighters often use 16 oz boxing gloves, while professionals and amateurs use 8 oz to 12 oz gloves when boxing in a match.
It’s crucial to understand that professional fighters use large 16-ounce boxing gloves when they spar to prevent injuries, so when you are sparring, it makes sense to follow suit and use 16-ounce gloves; there is no sense in using smaller gloves and risk frequently being hurt.
Therefore, for safety during sparring, you should wear 16 oz gloves.
Bag Work
16 oz gloves are not suitable for bag work. These gloves are too heavy and thick as they have very thick padding. 16 oz gloves have the thickest padding, so it is not ideal to use these gloves for bag work as the padding can add a lot of weight.
Sparring
The 16 oz gloves are great for sparring. Even though anyone can use these, fighters above 155 lbs can use these gloves much more effectively. The thicker padding provides excellent protection, which is great for heavyweight fighters doing sparring.
For sparring, it’s important you use heavier gloves (at least 12oz and above) and make sure there’s enough padding and wrist protection.
Conclusion
Making the right choice for your boxing gloves is essential. If you get heavier gloves, you won’t be able to play in matches, and they won’t be effective for bag work. However, if you go for lighter gloves, you can play in matches, but they aren’t particularly useful in sparring.
Going for the middle option isn’t always the right choice as sometimes they won’t be able to fulfill either of your needs. Your choice comes down to your needs and what you want to use the gloves for.
I hope this article helped you understand the uses for the types of gloves and assisted you in making a decision about which gloves you should buy for yourself.
