Essential Boxing Equipment

It doesn’t matter whether or not you have dreams of becoming the next Michael Katsidis, or are just looking for a new sport to get involved with.  Either way, if you are going to ever be a decent professional or amateur boxer you will want to have the proper boxing equipment.  The reality is that you can neither become a great prizefighter nor train properly to enjoy the sport of boxing without first having the boxing equipment that is most essential.

The right boxing equipment can be in your home or at a gym.  It doesn’t matter where you decide to conduct your boxing training; what matters is that you have access to all the equipment any boxer worth his championship belt wouldn’t be caught dead without.  Here is a list of must-haves for any would be boxer:

Gloves

Boxing gloves are the most important piece of boxing equipment.  Depending on whether or not you will actually be getting in the ring to spar or are just planning on using the punching bag, there are different types of gloves that would be more appropriate depending on the situation.

If you plan on doing simple training techniques then purchasing a pair of moderately prices Everlast gloves would be fine.  If, however, you are planning on being a serious pugilist one day, you may want to use the gloves the professionals use.  Two most popular brands among the pros are Cleto Reyes gloves and Grant gloves.  The glove you choose should provide hand protection as you make impact with either a bag or a human.  Gloves are definitely a critical piece of boxing equipment.

Hand Wraps

Like gloves, hand wraps work to protect the hands from damage.  In addition when the wraps on placed on the hand properly, they also help to stabilize the wrists and thumbs, which also helps to prevent injury.  If you have smaller hands, watch out for “bunching”, this could make the wrap ineffective.  When putting on hand wraps, the important thing is to make it tight enough that it stays put, but not so tight that it inhibits circulation.

Punching Bag

Other than the glove, the punching bag is another piece of boxing equipment that is a must have.  This large imposing piecing of pugilist equipment is an invaluable resource for training.  The punching bag, or heavy bag, can be purchased in a free standing format; it can also be purchased with equipment to hang it from a ceiling.  Punching bags which hang from the ceiling are considered to be a better option for professionals choosing boxing equipment.

Floor Length Mirror

This may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of traditional equipment for boxing. The reality is that having a mirror for “shadow boxing” while you train is a great resource in helping you to improve your form.

With the right boxing equipment you can work towards being the next Justin Cane.  If not, at least you can train like him.