Should it be mandatory for pro boxers to wear the same gloves?

[adamjones]

It's an interesting topic. On one hand I think it makes the most sense for both boxers to wear the same brand, that way no matter what the pros and cons of the glove in question are, neither man has an advantage over the other. On the other hand I do like the existence of different types of gloves to suit different needs, I.e. Mexican-made Reyes gloves made from horse hair for a stiffer impact, or the extra padding and cushion of Winning to protect one's hands.

There are problems with both scenarios. First of all, if they wear the same gloves who gets to decide the brand? Most likely whoever is the 'A-side' in negotiations, so one side will have an advantage in that sense regardless. Secondly and perhaps more importantly, most boxers with any kind of profile have an endorsement deal with a specific brand and I struggle to see how you would go about circumventing that considering the money involved.

What I don't like is the clear difference in the distribution of the padding between brands. There was controversy around the Everlast MX gloves because they have less padding over the knuckle and more around the wrist, for example. There needs to be some uniformity there. Another aspect which perhaps requires closer scrutiny is that aside from the just the weight of the glove, the size must also be chosen. Heavyweights have larger hands than welterweights (by and large) NOFS shirts, so while a heavyweight might have a 10oz. glove in XL, a welterweight would have a 10oz. glove in M. Both gloves weigh 10oz., but one is larger than the other to accommodate a larger pair of hands. This means that those ten ounces are spread more thinly across the surface of the larger glove, naturally, which opens the door for more shenanigans like those mentioned above.

The discussion around fighters wearing the same gloves stems from fairness and safety concerns. The main reason for matching gloves is to ensure both fighters have equal protection and avoid any advantage one fighter might gain from different gloves in terms of weight or padding. However, allowing fighters to choose their gloves based on comfort is also valid as long as they meet safety standards. Standardizing gloves or following the governing body's regulations would be the best way to ensure fairness and safety on fight night.

[CaptainAmerican]

On one hand, having all fighters wear the same gloves could ensure a level playing field and eliminate any potential advantages one type of glove might give over another. On the other hand, gloves are a personal choice for many fighters, impacting their comfort, protection, and style of fighting.

Maybe a middle ground would be to ensure that all gloves meet strict safety and padding distribution standards, while still allowing fighters to choose the brand and type that best suits their needs. What do you think?