Used by some of the sport’s greatest ever fighters from Mohammed Ali to Manny Pacquiao, Mexican boxing gloves are legendary for their quality and punching power.
Mexican boxing gloves are a specific style of boxing gloves, recognizable by their longer cuffs and thinner padding. They are generally slimmer than standard gloves although the difference has narrowed over the years as boxing gloves in general have become more compact. Mexican boxing gloves are renowned for their high quality and punching power.
How are Mexican boxing gloves different? 🥊
Shape and look
- Longer cuff. Often the wrist padding of Mexican boxing gloves reach further up your arm than standard boxing gloves
- Thin padding. Perhaps the biggest difference between Mexican boxing gloves and other gloves is the thin, compact padding that Mexican boxing gloves tend to have. This means that the wearer will feel the impact of the punches much more, resulting in Mexican gloves often being described as a “Puncher’s glove”. More on this further down! Thinner padding gives Mexican gloves a flatter look on the top of the gloves and on the knuckles compared with standard much more rounded padding styles.
- Wide palm, narrow wrist. The hand compartment of Mexican gloves is usually quite wide and then tapers gradually down to a skinnier wrist compartment.
Feel
- Mexican gloves often come overweight by 2 to 3 oz. In other words, if you order a 16 oz pair there is a good chance they will actually weight 18 or 19 oz. If you are considering buying some Mexican gloves then seriously consider sizing down! I’m not sure why this is the case but I have heard this feedback regularly.
- Very soft and comfortable once broken in. Thanks to the high quality material and craftsmanship that often goes into making Mexican gloves.
- Rough inner lining. I often hear that Mexican gloves don’t tend to have a soft inner lining.
Material
- Leather exterior. Again, due to their high quality, Mexican boxing gloves are often made using cowhide leather. Given they are made from leather, they will usually require some time to properly break in before they are nice and soft
- Latex foam or horsehair padding. The material used for the padding is the same as standard gloves although, as mentioned above, it is usually more compact in Mexican gloves.
Quality
- Mexican boxing gloves are often associated with the highest quality thanks to traditional craftsmanship that has been refined over decades. Think handmade in Mexico, small batches, top quality leather, very durable, double stitching, the lot. The best of the best.
Related articles:
- What Are Horsehair Boxing Gloves?
- Boxing Gloves For Beginners
- Best Boxing Gloves for Heavy Bag Training
Where can I buy Mexican boxing gloves? 🛒
1. Cleto Reyes
Cleto Reyes are the Rolls Royce of Mexican boxing gloves.
Renowned for their unrivaled quality and reliability, these gloves have become one of the most well-known and respected in the industry.
It is still a family business and the gloves continue to be handmade in a small workshop near Mexico City, where Cleto Reyes himself was born in 1920 and where he honed his craft of making boxing gloves.
Find the website here.
2. Gil
Gil gloves are beautiful to look at and to wear. Handmade in Mexico from cow leather, these gloves guarantee extremely high quality.
Gil gloves are not mass produced, but are instead made in small batches to ensure quality and an aura of exclusivity. Timeless style and expert craftsmanship.
Find the website here.
3. Casanova
A more affordable option than Cleto Reyes and Gil, at a slightly lower level of quality. Still a great pair of gloves, made in Mexico, and renowned for being extremely comfortable and soft to wear.
Find the website here.
(FYI, I don’t receive any commission for sales through this page. This is just my unbiased, honest opinion)
Should I get some Mexican boxing gloves? 🤔
Some of the biggest names in boxing like Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson and Oscar de la Hoya have competed at the highest level using Mexican style gloves.
They are undoubtedly a great style of glove that any keen boxer would appreciate. So, yes, if you can afford a pair, then go for it.
More impact
- The reason they are often preferred by pros when they are competing is due to their thinner padding. This means that they can inflict more damage on their opponent and the wearer can feel more of the impact of the punch.
- With thinner, more compact padding, less impact is absorbed by the glove so both the boxer using the glove and whatever he or she is punching will feel more of the impact. This is why they are often known as a “puncher’s glove”, because they deliver more punching power.
But higher risk of injury
- There is a downside to this though: with thinner padding comes less protection and an increased likelihood of injuring your hand. This is particularly relevant if you have had hand injuries in the past.
- If you are training and sparring then you run a higher risk of needlessly injuring your own hand or your sparring partner if you use Mexican gloves. So, if you do splash out on some Mexican gloves then I would recommend buying another more standard style glove for sparring otherwise you will not be very popular in the gym!
Breaking in time
- A final consideration before you buy is that you will likely need to spend some time breaking them in as they are made from leather. This can take 3+ months of regular use and can be frustrating for some people. Make sure to have another set of gloves that you can use while you slowly soften up your new pair of Mexican gloves.
Cost
- Due to their handmade quality, Mexican boxing gloves tend to be more expensive than standard gloves. Of course you can find them for cheap, but if you’re going for a top brand like Cleto Reyes or Gil, expect to pay ~$200 for a pair at least.
12th Round 🔔
A quality pair of Mexican boxing gloves are a vital part of any serious boxer’s arsenal. If they’re good enough for Manny Pacquiao, they’re good enough for me. Better start saving.
Happy fighting! 🥊🥊
“My punches are just as hard in Chicago as in New York.” — Sonny Liston
