Boxing Gloves

The “Golden Gloves” are America's most important amateur trophy and are awarded through an annual traditional tournament. But until it was safe and fair to box, it was a long journey with many obstacles. Since the 19th century, there are padded boxing gloves. The upholstery was still made of horsehair in the early days. Still, 1983 came it to a fatal box fight. At that time, in the Madison Square Garden, the young Billy Collins fought against Puerto Rican Luis Resto. Resto, a boxer who had already been written off, won the race - but was convicted of fraud and the use of his hands as weapons. What happened? The horsehair was partly removed through tiny holes and the bandages were soaked under the gloves with plaster. The thus rock hard blows led to irreparable damage to the young American Collins and he was never allowed to box again. Not four years later, today's boxing fighters owe it to Georg F. Brückner that finally an improvement for the protection of the athletes was developed. It was Brückner who patented “soft” boxing gloves and thus triggered a revolution in boxing.