Boxing Glove Materials

By Mike Ortiz
Material Science
December 2, 2019
1.1 Introduction of the Boxing Gloves

Figure 1

John L. Sullivan (American Heavy weight Champion)

Bare knuckle fights were the first official boxing fights, until the first heavy weight glove

fight took place on 1889. John L. Sullivan (Figure 1), American Heavyweight Champion, had the

first official glove fight and it was made unlawful to keep fighting bareknuckle (4). Later down

the years the glove was improved to keep the contenders safe. Different weight gloves were

later on made for different weight class on boxing. Heavier weight contenders require heavier

gloves, thus having much more padding on the gloves. The padding is specifically used on the

gloves to absorb the energy of the attacker against the defendant to not cause major damage

but still be enough to feel the blow (2). Many of today’s gloves are made with an outer layer of

grain leather, often cowhide or goat skin, because of their durability and flexibility. Other

materials used on boxing gloves include nylon taffeta and polyurethane (2). Boxing fanatics, and
contenders have improved the boxing glove design with their best understandings. Try to

obtain the most wrist, knuckle, and body protection to the contenders. By using the highest

tech material being introduce every year. With their top concern being safety against the blows

being exchange with the boxing gloves.

2.1 Boxing Glove Layers

Figure 2

Typical Boxing glove

The boxing glove itself is composed out of 3 main layers. Which is the outer layer, outer

core, and inner core. On the outer layer you will typically have your genuine layer. The outer

core is mostly created by a foam padding. The last layer which is the inner core is made up of

polyurethane which is mostly used for carpet padding.

2.2 The Leather layer

Figure 3

Real Leather Vs PU Leather

 As mentioned before the outer most layer on the boxing glove is made out of genuine

leather often cowhide or goat skin (2). Although there are many manufactures that want to

save up on the material and rather use a less costless material. Such as a mixture of leather and

polyurethane which is a thermoplastic polymer that creates what we know as an artificial

leather or PU leather (1). Although it may have much resemblance of leather Its flexibility does

not compare to that of genuine leather. The reason why leather is the most typical used

material on the outer layer of the glove is for the simple reason of durability of the glove (2).

Since the glove will be exposed to tremendous forces being acted against the glove. It has to be

able to withstand from breaking or tearing. Leather itself is a material that is made from

chemical alteration at the molecular level to stop the cowhide or goat skin from rotting. The

cowhide or goatskin have to go through a process called tanning (1). Chemically transforming

the hide into a more rich and flexible material. In order to obtain the softness of the leather and

durability. When gloves are made up of PU leather they tend to crack and deteriorate faster

than leather does (2). Thus, not performing how the designer of the glove tends for it to work.

The high elasticity of the leather is suitable for it to withstand the blows yet prevent it from

taking any irregular shape.

2.3 The Outer Core

The outer core of the boxing glove is the most exceptional since it’s the padding that actually

makes up the glove. Which its technical term is known as EVA Foam and it is used on other

sporting goods and apparel (3). The EVA foam is designed to absorb the energy that is being

release with the punch so that it won’t affect much on the knuckles of the contender (2). The

more padding the padding compresses on the blow the more energy the padding will absorb.

Although no too much foam is put on the glove so that the EVA foam won’t compress much

because it will cease to do its function. The job of the EVA foam is to compress itself and

maintain its deformed state for a period of time (3). Allowing the initial blow to be protected,

yet subsequent blows are typically unpadded. Different weights of gloves have different

thickness of padding and different layers. Heavyweight champions require heavier padding

gloves so that the padding can absorb the energy from the blow and compress it (2). The EVA

foam is basically a thermoplastic that replaces rubber, yet with the essentials of flexibility,

resilience, and stress cracking.

2.3 The Inner Core

Figure 4
Rebound Foam

The inner core is essentially only made up of polyurethane. Polyurethane is often known as

the rebound foam on the glove. It is used on the globe due to its compressibility, energy

absorption, light weight, low thermal conductivity, and vibration dampening (5). The inner core is

where most of the energy is being absorb even though it is the one in the center. As of the padding

itself it compresses and absorbs the energy (5). The rebound foam does an amazing job on the

glove itself and it hasn’t been changed much since it was first used. Replacing what they actually

used before on early times of boxing which was horse hair. The rebound foam has shown great

quality and demonstrates an essential job on keeping the hands safe of the contenders and there

bodies as well.
3.1 Design

The design of the glove is well composed with all its three layers to essentially do the job of keeping

the contenders safe, and absorbing most of the energy from the blows being thrown. The glove

leather is stitched down to the molded up Eva foam giving it the shape of the glove. Which is

wrapped around the rebound foam. There is also a minimum amount of foam on the wrist itself to

keep the wrist safe as well and give the contenders a firm shot without the bending of the wrist.

3.2 Design improvements

An improvement that the glove itself my need might be the padding itself on the thumb since the

thumb is not taken much into consideration of enough padding around it. Although the thumb

doesn’t itself release any impact while on the blow it does however stick out a bit. Causing

sometimes for the contenders to poke each other eyes. Material wise improvements on the glove

would be a better polymer to be used as padding that won’t take as long to come back to its

original shape than what the foam does. Yet this might lead to harder hits and thus causing a bit

more damage on the opposite contender. Since most boxers tend to hit harder with gloves on than

bareknuckle or smaller training gloves.

4.1 Conclusion

In conclusion the 3 layers of the glove come up to play a role of just simple protection on

both the contenders. On their hands and body blows they exchange between each other. That is

the main purpose of the design on the glove itself. Over the years it has come to be safer and safer.

From coming out to plain leather without any padding to coming out to ¾ of padding to an 1 in.

now the sport takes care of their contenders and try to keep it safer for them. Boxing glove

manufactures are trying to use the most tech fiber materials they can to keep on improving the

boxing glove design, yet they haven’t met the expectations of fully replacing the genuine leather

gloves. Although the padding has improved during the years, yet they lack on finding something

more durable than the actual leather. Within time the boxing gloves will have a better material

implemented to it since many boxers tend to keep everything old style and don’t have much

ambition on the new technology being used on their sport.

 References

1- BPG Animal Skin and Leather. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.conservation-

wiki.com/wiki/BPG_Animal_Skin_and_Leather

2- How boxing gloves is made - material, manufacture, making, history, used, machine, History,

Raw Matericals, Design. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.madehow.com/Volume-

6/Boxing-Gloves.html

3- NetwizardDesign. (2015, May 25). What is an EVA foam and its common uses? Retrieved

from https://foamsealant.com.au/what-is-an-eva-foam-and-its-common-uses/

4- Waters, M. (2012, June 9). End of a boxing era: The tale of Jake Kilrain vs. John L. Sullivan,

the final bare-knuckle heavyweight title fight. Retrieved from

https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2012/06/end_of_a_boxing_era_the_tale_o.html

5- Polyurethane Foam. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.newenglandfoam.com/polyurethane.html