In the early days of Muay Thai, fighters used hemp ropes to protect their hands. As the sport evolved, rules such as the use of gloves were implemented to both protect fighters and help the growth of the sport.
Similar to Boxing, Muay Thai has several governing organizations and fight promotions. Every promotion has its own rules and regulations including the size of gloves fighters wear.
In this article, we will discuss the regulation glove size used in professional Muay Thai fights. We will also look at the differences between various promotions and organizations around the globe.
Let’s dive in.
Muay Thai Regulation Glove Weight
What weight gloves do professional Muay Thai fighters use?
In Thailand, the majority of Muay Thai bouts are fought using 8 oz gloves. A heavier Muay Thai fighter may sometimes use 10 oz whilst lighter Muay Thai fighters use 6 oz gloves.
The WMC rules state:
- Fighters between the mini flyweight division and the featherweight division must use 6 oz gloves (132 grams).
- Thai boxers between the super featherweight division and the welterweight division must use
- 8 oz gloves (227 grams).
- Fighters over the super welterweight division must use 10 oz gloves (284 grams).
The weight of Muay Thai gloves used in fights also varies depending on the organization sanctioning the bout.
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What Size Gloves Do Professional K-1 & Kickboxing Fighters Use?
Professional Kickboxing is Muay Thai’s closest relative in the world of combat sports. Although the disciplines have several similarities, they also have many differences including the number of rounds and size of the gloves used.
Similar to Muay Thai, the weight of gloves used in Kickboxing fights will vary depending on the organization that is sanctioning the fight.
In general, professional Kickboxing fighters use either 8 oz gloves or 10 oz gloves.
Regulation Glove Weight For Other Organizations
Due to the evolution of Muay Thai, more organizations are promoting professional Muay Thai fights than ever before. Each of these promotions has its own rules and regulations fighters must adhere to.
Below we will discuss the regulation glove weight of some of the most popular Muay Thai and Kickboxing and organizations around the globe.
One Championship
One Championship is one of the most successful martial arts organizations in the world. The promotion features bouts in several martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Grappling.
The rules in One Championship can vary drastically depending on the martial art and the event a fighter is competing in.
In ONE Super Series, Muay Thai fighters wear MMA style open-finger 4 oz gloves. In other Muay Thai bouts, fighters have worn a range of different glove sizes including the traditional 10 oz Muay Thai gloves and MMA style gloves.
The dynamic ruleset that One Championship has implemented encourages fighters to push the pace and keep the crowd entertained.
Glory Kickboxing
Glory Kickboxing is the largest kickboxing promotion in the world and is home to some of the highest-level fighters in the sport.
The promotion follows rules similar to K-1 kickboxing. Typically fights are at a faster pace than Muay Thai bouts and clinching is limited.
Glory abides by a strict set of rules and regulations designed to push the pace and entertain the audience.
Below are the regulation glove sizes for Glory Kickboxing events.
- Featherweight max 65kg / 143 lbs. or lighter shall wear 8 oz. gloves
- Lightweight max 70 kg / 154 lbs. or heavier shall wear 10 oz. gloves
Max Muay Thai
If you’ve never heard of Max Muay Thai, think Kickboxing on steroids!
Unlike traditional Muay Thai promotions, Max Muay Thai is known for putting on an entertaining show. They have unique methods to attract a large audience, including live entertainment and bonuses for fighters.
The Max Muay Thai promotion holds two events, Max Muay Thai and MX MT Extreme.
For Max Muay Thai cards fighters abide by the traditional Muay Thai regulation glove weight, using either 6 oz, 8oz, or 10oz gloves depending on their weight bracket.
For MX MT Extreme events, fighters wear 4 oz MMA-style gloves. The lighter and therefore less padded gloves are the perfect recipe for an even more entertaining show.
What Size Gloves Do Muay Thai Fighters Use During Training?
Muay Thai gloves come in many different types and sizes. Whilst a beginner Thai Boxer can get away with owning one pair of 14 oz gloves, professional Nak Muay must own several pairs for different aspects of training.
Below we will discuss the different types and sizes of gloves that Muay Thai fighters should use during training.
Muay Thai Sparring Gloves
When sparring we recommend using 14oz – 16oz Muay Thai gloves.
Muay Thai sparring gloves have extra padding and are heavier than gloves used for bag-work.
The reason for the extra weight is protection.
It’s essential to protect both your hands and prevent your sparring partner from sustaining injuries during training.
Muay Thai Bag Gloves
Muay Thai bag gloves are designed solely for use with a heavy bag. They are typically smaller and lighter and offer less protection than Muay Thai sparring gloves.
We recommend using 10oz-12oz gloves for bag work.
This weight is both heavy enough to protect your hands and also light enough to allow you to focus on heavy bag-work.
What weight gloves do professional Muay Thai fighters use?
The regulation Muay Thai glove weight will vary depending on the organization and weight of the fighter. In Thailand, fighters compete using either 6 oz, 8 oz, or 10 oz gloves, depending on their weight class and gender.
Below is a summary of the Muay Thai glove sizes professional fighters use.
- Fighters between the mini flyweight division and the featherweight division must use 6 oz gloves (132 grams).
- Thai boxers between the super featherweight division and the welterweight division must use 8 oz gloves (227 grams).
- Fighters over the super welterweight division must use 10 oz gloves (284 grams).
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