Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
It may or may not be an omen for boxing’s future – the most famous brand in boxing history, Everlast, saw it’s gloves fall apart in the WBO Welterweight world title fight last week. Moments before Terence Crawford knocked out David Avanesyan in the sixth round in Omaha, Nebraska, his glove fell apart in the ring. A seam ripped and padding was coming out of the glove. Further damage was done to the glove after the KO blow.
Everlast explained the malfunction…
“We take safety and performance seriously. As the leader in professional boxing equipment, it is ever more important that we ensure the necessary steps are in place to review our product development process and the integrity of our gloves. This process includes close scrutiny of all materials used in construction message employed in the production of a professional competition gloves. Our top priority is to ensure that every fighter who uses our products has a safe and secure experience.
During the development cycle of a custom fight clubs used in Crawford versus Avanesyan, a batch of defective leather was used in production resulting in a malfunction during the competition. In such cases Everlast follows proper protocol by providing back up competition pairs to be replaced pending a decision by the sanctioning body overseeing the fight. [During the Crawford-Avanesyan fight, a] stoppage was called to review the equipment malfunction and the commission deemed the equipment was still suitable for competition. No foul play was at hand nor was there any tampering of the product on behalf of Terence Crawford and his camp.
In addition to the steps we are taking now, Everlast has long had rigorous quality control procedures in place for all of our equipment, including our gloves. We only use premium grade materials and tastic construction message which meet or exceed all standards set by regulatory bodies. As part of this process, each patch of gloves undergoes extensive inspections prior to being shipped out. This ensures that only quality product reach boxers and other athletes to depend on us for their safety and performance.
Further, Everlast understands that athletes should not be held responsible for defective gear. That’s why we offer an unconditional guarantee on all products sold directly through our online store or via an authorized dealer. This guarantees that any defective items can be returned or placed in a timely manner so there are no disruptions to an athlete’s training regimen.
At Everlast, we take great pride in producing top-notch boxing equipment and apparel with safety as our highest priority. We remain committed to providing athletes with the best possible gear available so they can perform at the peak capabilities without worry or risk of injury due to faulty equipment.”
