Cotto-Pacquiao glove story: No pillows, just two mules kicking

It’s not hard to find pillows in the humungous MGM Grand Hotel-Casino.

But there won’t be any in the ring on Nov. 14 when Miguel Angel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao collide in a PPV TV main event which is aptly titled “Fire Power.”

One topic the two camps, which have fussed over everything else, are in harmony on is their mutual request to use eight ounce gloves, probably the Mexican made “puncher’s choice,” Reyes.

I spoke with Nevada boxing commission chieftain Keith Kizer and he said the glove story for the momentous November showdown is all good.

“Above 135 pounds and up to 147 pounds, it’s up to the fighters whether they use eight or 10 ounce gloves,” Kizer said. “If they both agree to go with the eights, we let them.

“If one fighter does not agree, then guys in those weights fight with the 10 ounce gloves.”

Kizer said Nevada had a test period of about 18 months and then studied whether it was safer for boxers in those weights to use the bigger or smaller gloves.

“We looked ast the data and it was inconclusive. So we decided to give the boxers more control, to have this option to agree on the eights. We decided to give the fighters the voice on this.”

Above the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, the 10 ounce gloves must be used. Even that created a problem for hulking heavyweights Big George Foreman and Lennox Lewis, Kizer said.

“George and Lennox had problems fitting their hands in them but they did it,” Kizer said.

Kizer said that Nevada permits the promoter to supply “any recognized brand of gloves. We won’t accept something someone made in their garage.

“The four brands we usually get are Reyes, Everlast, Grant and the Winning gloves from Japan. Erik Morales, who had hand problems, liked the Winning glove because of his hand issues.”

Reyes remains the first choice of most Mexican boxers, Kizer said.



“As a group, the Hispanic boxers seem to prefer Reyes which is made in Mexico. Reyes has the reputation of being the best gloves for heavy hitters.”

Kizer said he found it interesting that an internal look at the four more popular brands showed slight differences.

“Every brand of glove is somewhat different,” Kizer said. “Some have horsehair, some have foam and some have a mixture of both inside the glove.”

In recent years both manufacturer Ringside and the historic Everlast brand have made what they refer to and market as “a Mexican style” glove. The obvious reference is to Reyes.

(As a sidelight, I heard stories through the years that there were two Reyes brothers who began their glovemaking company. Some years ago, a brand called Seyer popped up.

That’s Reyes spelled backwards and the tale I heard was the brothers named Cleto and Carlos had a dispute and went their separate ways. I think Seyer is no longer in business.)

Like Everlast, Reyes has stood the test of time.

So Cotto and Megamanny concur on their weapons of choice.

You talk about horsehair, I see explosive punching which could remind us of Mike Tyson’s vivid description of the punching power of Donovan “Razor” Ruddock.

Power puncher Tyson once said “Ruddock punches like a mule kicks.”

Two mules will be kicking come Nov. 14.
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August 6, 8:45 AM
NY Boxing Examiner
Michael Marley
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