Boxing is one of the most respected as well as among the most brutal sports in the world. It has produced many legends, and several of them have used Cleto Reyes boxing gloves as their chosen brand of gear during their illustrious career.
Cleto Reyes has been a widely respected brand for boxing gear and equipment for more than half a decade now. It has been preferred by many greats of the sport, such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, and Oscar de la Hoya.
In this article, we review Cleto Reyes and their boxing gloves in detail for anyone training on bags or sparring in the ring.
Contents
About Cleto Reyes
With their roots in true-blue Mexican boxing, Cleto Reyes is a family-run business that has been in the industry for over 50 years out of Mexico. Established by Cleto Reyes Castro, these top-quality boxing gloves were first used in a world championship in 1945 between Juan Zurita and Ike Williams.
Since then, Cleto Reyes boxer gloves have been widely acknowledged in the boxing circuit for their superior quality. A staunch promoter of the traditional Mexican style of gloves manufacturing, their products are known for their authentic handmade leather and excellent construction.
The Different Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves Models
10 oz. Hook and Loop Boxing
This model was designed with special padding of foam, keeping in mind amateur boxers. It is ideal for anyone to start training and fighting at the gym and white-collar matches.
Training Boxing Gloves
Cleto Reyes training gloves are their most sought-after product for their versatility. They are perfect for using on the bag and pad as well as for sparring.
Extra Padding Boxing Gloves
These gloves come with extra padding and shiny red color. They are ideal for heavy training on the bag.
Official Fight Boxing Gloves
Fight gloves are meant for matches and not for everyday bag training or sparring. Regular use would inevitably damage the gloves.
Hybrid Training Gloves
A modern take on the flagship Cleto Reyes boxing gloves, these gloves replace the traditional horsehair foam with latex and comes with a Velcro strap.
Safetec Gloves
Cleto Reyes Safetec gloves are perfect for training for speed and power as they come with heavy padding protection to the hand.
Bag Gloves with Elastic Cuff
Yet another Cleto Reyes take on traditional bag training gloves, this model comes with elastic on the wrist for better grip. However, your hands will be at higher risk of getting hurt.
The Pros of Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves
Their material and making of Cleto Reyes gloves focus more on protection and functionality than heaviness. Following are the reasons why they are referred to as the “Gloves of Champions.”
Material
When it comes to material, Cleto Reyes offers more than value for money with their 100% original goatskin leather and horsehair foaming. In some models, the foam is made of latex instead.
The authenticity of the leather provides a softer and lighter feel upon wearing. Moreover, the premium nylon lining adds a moisture-absorbing feature that helps wick off the sweat during training.
Double Stitching
Unlike many modern brands, Cleto Reyes believes in traditional methods of glove making. They give their products a double stitch, which you cannot see in many other contemporary brands.
The double stitching gives the gloves a snug fit and longevity. Cleto Reyes gloves can last years if you care for them right.
Comfort
Cleto Reyes gloves are known worldwide for their comfort. Not only does the material feel better on the skin, but the build of the gloves is snug and compact for a higher comfort quotient.
Models come in different variants of fit – lace-up, elastic, Velcro – and each of them come with their own fit. The soft leather and compact design of the gloves allow breathability along with a snug fit instead of tightening up around your hand and fingers.
Protection
Cleto Reyes uses the old-school method of horsehair padding, which often stand a lot more punishment than the contemporary materials. However, it makes the knuckle area slightly exposed to injuries, which is why the company makes special extra-padding gloves.
The latter comes with a quarter or half-inch additional latex padding in the knuckle region for extra protection. The padding style makes these gloves ideal for sparring, punching bag, or training on the pad.
Style
Style is not the most important thing when it comes to boxing gloves. However, Cleto Reyes makes sure theirs look good on the fighters and boxers.
Their original goat leather gives the gloves a natural shiny look. They also come in the brightest of shades, such as red, blue, black, maroon, purple, green, and many more shades.
On top of that, the classic Cleto Reyes logo that they have stuck with since the earliest days adds a definitive weight to the whole look. After all, the gloves have been used by the greatest of the great champions of the sport.
Cons of Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves
Nothing comes without a few drawbacks, and Cleto Reyes is not an exception. Here are a couple of disadvantages to the Champions’ Gloves.
Break-in Period
Cleto Reyes boxing gloves infamously take 5-6 months to break in, which means you cannot use them optimally as soon as you buy. However, if you can be patient enough for half a year, they provide unparalleled performance once broken in properly.
Not Enough Knuckle Padding
The less padding makes the gloves lightweight, and it works for the pros. The knuckle area especially lacks padding, which can make the sparring or bag punching experience painful for an amateur.
However, the point is to learn how to punch properly and effectively so that it does not impact as much on your hands. The gloves serve that purpose perfectly.
Wrapping Up
Whether you are starting out as a boxer or is a battle-hardened one, Cleto Reyes boxing gloves are for all. They stand out amid their competition for exceptional build and stellar designs.