Glove question.

[Jens]

This forum doesn't seem to be about topics like this but I know that there are some coaches here so I think that you can help me out.

I used to box and we usually used a rather thickly padded 16 ounce sparring glove that seemed like it was a lot more padded then the gloves that other gyms sparred with. I recently acquired some Top Contender 14 ounce training gloves. I know that these can be used for sparing but they seem like they would do a lot more damage then the ones that we used to use. I am planing on going to a different gym to spar and we have always provided our own gloves (I no longer have access to the ones I used to use) I don't want to make them mad by using the wrong gloves (I remember having guys visit our gym with gloves that hit like hammers). Would it be ok to go into someone else's gym and use these gloves or should I look for something different (I am a 152 and haven't fought or spared in a while).
Thanks

[Dennis]

In our gym, only young, small J.O. boxers use 14 oz sparring gloves. J.O. boxers that are bigger - 145# and up, older - 13 to 16 and/or more experienced - A-class (more than 10 bouts) usually will wear 16 oz. sparring gloves. All of our senior boxers (17 and up) have to wear 16 oz sparring gloves. I will sometimes make a guy/girl from another gym wear our gloves if their gloves are not sparring gloves, not big enough, not padded properly or other reasons. If they have a good pair of 16 or 18 oz sparring gloves, it is not a problem for them to wear their own gloves.

[Dennis]

Remember, you are a guest when you are in someone else's gym.