I sent this same question to a boxing trainer and here's what he had to say...

Hi Hungrytiger,

Sounds like you are smart cookie....you almost answered the question yourself, definately on target.

I am a little surprised those guys are using 8oz. gloves. It's actually not even allowed in my gym for the very reason you mentioned. It is very easy to bruise your knuckles not to mention increase the risk of rolling over your wrist. A hand is a hand, whether it's the hand of a pro or an amateur, they both bruise and they both are suseptable to the same injuries. I recommend 14oz. for heavybag, uppercut bag and handpads... 16oz. for sparring....the only consideration for 10 or 8 oz would be the double-end bag...

If your not already doing this, take a piece of foam and place it across your knuckles and wrap your handwraps over the top normally. Sounds like you have sprained the tendons on your wrist, very common, and if it really hurts you need to lay off of any contact with that hand for week, if you don't it will take forever to heal...there is a silver lining to this injury, it forces you to polish up your punches in your other hand....(don't even wrap that hand or glove it, if you do, you will inadvertantly use it thru habit).

Heavier gloves will not hurt your timing...that theory is way over-blown.... the heavier gloves give you a better workout, they protect your hands, and when you finally switch over to fight gloves you feel fast as hell....why aren't these guys using them in the gym? they should be...I dont know what their thinking.. every gym I've been in don't even have 8 or 10oz out on the glove table...(but they probably have bought there own stuff)... there is a misconception out there on those gloves, everlast used to market their small lightweight gloves as "pro gloves" (they used to have this metal bar in the middle you gripped when you made a fist)...guys used to think it meant "pro boxer", but it was just a marketing gimmeck to make the gloves sound cool..but guys ate it up (and still do), some companies still use the selling point... also, pros want to feel fast when they train so that could be a factor... I don't feel there's any benefit... plus if my fighter had a big fight coming up and he was hitting the heavybag with 12's and rolled his wrist over, the fight is cancelled, all because of something as silly as wearing the wrong gloves....I wouldnt allow it, for his own sake.

As far as makes of gloves...I would love to tell you the $100 gloves aren't worth it, but I can't ..ha... I use "grant" which are designed just like the reyes and love them... yes, you do get extra support in the wrist, and that extra wrist support is because that part of the glove is stiffer and longer... you will be surprised as to how light they are, remember, there is more weight in the wrist area of these gloves so a 14oz. reyes or grant will feel lighter than a regular 14oz glove... I have 16oz and they feel like 14's... I hated shelling out the dough but if you take care of them, you'll have them forever....

I hope i got to all of your questions and feel free to come back anytime. Good Luck.....and take care of that wrist first thing...

later, jack www.heavyweightcontender.com