List of Boxing Equipment

If you want to start boxing, you need access to the right equipment. You don't have to own everything yourself, but you need a gym that has access to the right kind of equipment to train with. You are best off joining a gym and signing up with a trainer who can teach you the ins and outs of boxing.

If you are serious about boxing you will need two pairs of boxing gloves. One is a light pair of bag gloves -- 10 oz. or less -- that you will use to hit the speed bag and the heavy bag. However, when you get in the ring to spar or box with an opponent, you need full-size gloves that are 14 to 16 ozs. Boxing gloves cushion the hand during the punching process and will often keep you from getting injured. If you throw a solid punch at an awkward angle you could damage your fist. That's why the cushioning of the boxing glove is needed. Hand wraps, to be worn underneath the gloves for support, are also essential for protection.

In order tTo truly learn your sport, you have to be able to get in the ring against an opponent. The only place this is going to happen is if you belong to a gym that a boxing ring to spar with an opponent. The ring will be somewhere between 16 feet by 16 feet and 24 feet by 24 feet. A ring is the right place to test yourself to see if you have learned your skills.

The speed bag is one of the oldest boxing tools and it helps a boxer learn how to throw punches with speed, accuracy and agility. To learn how to throw punches at angles that can hurt your opponent, use a speed bag to hone your skills. Hitting the speed bag also helps your endurance and quickness.

Throwing power punches on the heavy bag is a different skill than learning how to throw quick punches on the speed bag. Power punches are not the result of being able to lift heavy weights and having a strong chest and arms. Power punches are thrown with your entire body. You want to use your lower body, core muscles and upper body to throw power punches, and the heavy bag will help you.

Before you get in the ring you will need protective head gear, a mouth guard, hand wraps, a supporter and cup, and boxing shoes. The head gear is used by all fighters during training and amateur fighters during bouts. All fighters use mouth guards, which protect the mouth and teeth from hard punches and help prevent mouth lacerations and broken teeth. The protective supporter and cup prevent injuries to the reproductive organs while the boxing shoes help fighters move smoothly in the ring without turning or injuring their ankles.