Collection: Cleto Reyes

Cleto Reyes - Handmade Mexican Boxing Gloves

Cleto Reyes gloves have been worn in world title fights since 1945, and they're still made the same way in Mexico City: cut, stitched and inspected by hand, one pair at a time. The brand built its reputation on what boxers call the puncher's glove — a slimmer profile with firmer padding that gives you honest feedback on every shot instead of absorbing it. It's a specific feel, and the fighters who want it won't train in anything else.

What Makes a Reyes Different

Two things. The first is the leather. Goatskin is thinner than the cowhide most brands use but stronger for its weight, so the glove can be built compactly around your hand without bulk, and it breaks in properly — softening and moulding to your knuckles rather than just wearing out. The second is the padding: firmer and less generous over the striking surface than a typical training glove. That's exactly why experienced boxers choose them, and why they aren't a beginner's first pair. A water-repellent lining keeps sweat out of the padding so the gloves stay light through the back end of a session.

Training Gloves

The hook-and-loop Training Gloves are the core of the range, with a handmade leather strap for a fast, firm fit and reinforced wrist support to keep your hand aligned through bag work and sparring. Available in black, white, red, pink and Gold Blast, in 12oz, 14oz and 16oz. Above them sit the Tuxedo and Silver Storm in their signature metallic finishes. If you'd rather have the tighter, more supportive wrap that only laces give, the Professional Training Gloves with Laces run the same construction with a lace-up closure — worth it if you have a coach or partner to tie them.

Competition and Protective Gear

The Official Professional Boxing Gloves are the fight-night model, lace-up in 8oz and 10oz, built to the slim profile that commissions approve for professional bouts. On the protective side, the Headgear with Cheek Protector is the piece Reyes is best known for, guarding against cuts without closing down your field of vision, and the Kidney and Foul Protection Cup gives full low-body coverage for hard sparring. For MMA, the Black Mamba Pro brings the same leather and hand construction to an open-palm glove with added thumb padding.

Breaking Them In

A new pair of Reyes will feel stiff, and that's normal rather than a fault. Give them 10 to 20 rounds of bag and pad work before taking them into hard sparring, so the padding settles and shapes to your hand. Always wear hand wraps underneath, particularly during the break-in period — the Reyes 4.5m hook-and-loop wraps pair naturally with the gloves. Looked after, a pair will outlast several sets of mass-produced gloves, which is where the price starts to justify itself.

Buying Cleto Reyes in Australia

Counterfeit Reyes gear is a real problem on third-party marketplaces. Everything we stock is authentic and held here in Australia, so there's no import wait and no risk of a fake. Free shipping applies on orders over $180, with 30-day returns on unused gear, and Zip and Afterpay at checkout. Not sure which weight or closure suits how you train? Get in touch before you order — at this price point it's worth getting right.