Boxing gloves are available in almost all colors but why did so many boxers and even trainers are more leaned towards red boxing gloves? Are there any psychological benefits behind it or it’s just old-fashioned tradition? Let see:
So, Why Are Boxing Gloves Red?
As a whole, red boxing gloves are more popular because they represent power and elevate boxers’ energy levels while positively influencing the fighting spirit. It not only set the tone of the match but also helps in hiding any blood strains to reduce the violent image of boxing.
In this article, I’ll explain to you exactly what is the actual significance of red color and what is the best color for your next pair of boxing gloves:
What Do Red Boxing Gloves Really Signify?
Generally, red and other warm colors represent the power and aggression of the boxer whereas blue color is more leaned towards the calm nature.
Also, red color is often associated with words like fire, energy, excitement, anger, and power and signifies that the boxer is coming with a fighting mode mentality. This is because it’s the most emotionally intense color and stimulates a faster heartbeat.
The visibility factor attached to it is another reason behind the popularity of red gloves. Although you might think that opponents can instantly notice red color but at the peripheral level of our eye, we struggle the most to pick the red color from the spectrum.
Even though here I’m talking about a split of 100 a second, but if you’re wearing red gloves then your opponent has relatively less time to react towards your attack.
Does Boxing Glove Color Matter?
A large number of studies show that color can significantly influence the overall performance of the athlete. I know color psychology will only have a marginal influence on your match but that might be enough in your case to push odds in your favor!
Personally, I do think the color of your boxing gloves matters in boxing. For example, red color is associated with something profound and pre-conscious in a way that it helps you to increase your energy levels.
The color you choose for your sports gear not only sets the tone of your mood for the entire match but can also be associated with the consistency of the number of efforts you’re actually putting into the game.
In fact, many researchers that are working in this field also believe that when you wear your favorite color gloves, it can elevate your mood and increase your chances of delivering great performance.
Statistically speaking, the chances of winning the boxer in the red corner (and thus with red gloves) is a little higher as compared to the blue one. Whether you want to believe in color psychology or not, but the math doesn’t lie.
Along with that, it’s important to understand, we do not perceive colors in the same way. For instance, females tend to have more color receptors than males, which means the color of the gloves has a more psychological effect on female boxers. (source)
What Is The Best Colour For Boxing Gloves?
When things came down to the Olympics and amateur boxing, the only colors allowed are red and blue. It’s mainly because these colors have distinct visibility that allows judges to see punches more clearly and help them to take fair decisions in terms of scoring.
But, apart from that, many boxers prefer either red or black gloves as it allows them to focus on the fight and doesn’t make them feel like they are in a fashion parade.
When boxing games start becoming wildly popular on televisions, the red color becomes a sort of tradition for boxing gloves. This shift was done primarily to soften the perception of the TV audience and reduce the violent image of boxing.
It is because red-colored boxing gloves not only help boxers to channel their anger properly and stimulate a relatively greater energy output into the fight but red gloves are also more likely to hide any blood strains.
Most of the time, boxer wearing red gloves tends to be more standout throughout the match whereas black color seems to get blended. On the other hand, blue-colored boxing gloves deliver more of relaxed vibes and are considered as a calming color.
One of my old mates explains the psychological power behind the solid colors of boxing gloves. He thinks red color helps you to improve your punching power, black gloves allow you for better blocking whereas blue boxing gloves increase your speed.
It’s all up to you, how much you want to believe into the color and how much significance you want to give to the color of your gloves apart from your actual training, boxing techniques, and other strategies.
Final Thoughts
With that being said, I think you can choose whatever color you prefer for your boxing gears. Just don’t go overboard with something like bright yellow, which is extremely distracting while sparring. Whether you like blue, red, or even black, everything will be okay.
I’m not at all denying the psychological effects of color but it’s all about practicality. While researching for this article, I came across so many different theories that explain why boxing gloves are primarily in red color, but I was unable to find any solid evidence for them.
If you make your mind and go crazy with red gloves then what if you’re assigned to the blue corner in your match? Your morale gets flattened even before starting the match. That’s why rather than focusing much on the specific color of gloves, focus on your training.
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