Rival Boxing Gear - The boxing gloves of the world champions

The beginning

Founded in 2003 by veteran boxing trainer and cutman Russ Anber, Rival entered the market with the promise to "reinvent the industry" by implementing innovations and ideas Russ had acquired over 25 years in boxing, including 13 years of experience introducing and selling foreign boxing brands into the Canadian market. When Rival's first order was placed for $2,000, Russ vowed that each subsequent order would be larger than the last, and so it was! From the beginning, Rival was a brand aimed at the high-end of the professional boxing market. There are countless affordable brands, but Rival's goal is to produce the highest quality boxing gloves and equipment that all top amateurs, professionals, and boxing clubs can use with complete confidence.

The evolution

Rival's recipe for success is the outstanding quality and durability of its products, achieved without copying, stealing, or infringing any intellectual property. Every top-of-the-line product Rival has produced since its launch in 2003 is based on original ideas and unique, innovative designs. From that humble initial order of $2,000, Rival has grown into a globally recognized brand with stores, offices, and employees in four countries—Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom—and is also a partner of seven amateur boxing clubs, including four in Canada, two in the United States, and one in Spain.

Rival in the ring

The list of fighters who have used Rival's wide range of gloves, gear, and apparel is stellar. Among those who have followed in the footsteps of former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal—the first boxer to wear Rival gloves in a world championship fight on HBO—have been countless other current and former world champions, including (among others) Anthony Joshua, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Keith Thurman, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Oscar Rivas, and many more. All of these champions have placed their trust in Rival's famed RFX-Guerrero Pro Fight glove, widely considered one of, if not the, best-fitting professional gloves on the market today and the crown jewel in the company's product line.

Rival's custom-made boxing apparel has also captured the attention and imagination of the boxing world. What began as an occasional clothing production has now grown into a full-time business due to global demand. Among the proudest milestones in Rival boxing history was the WBC Elimination match between Tony Bellew and Isaac Chilemba in March 2013, which marked the first time two professional boxers faced each other on foreign soil wearing full Rival apparel and Rival professional fighting gloves. Another memorable night in Rival's history was the World Boxing Super Series Final in July 2018, where Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev both wore Rival gloves as they competed for the undisputed Cruiserweight World Championship and the inaugural Ali Trophy.

Original Rival

Over the years, Rival's reputation as an innovative, technology-driven, and design-oriented company has shaken up the world of boxing equipment. Many companies have redesigned their product lines and appearance, adopting our innovations to emulate Rival's achievements. It's a testament to the strength of the Rival family that many of the employees who started with the company in 2003 are still with the company today. Every single member of the Rival team is dedicated to the commitment to excellence and innovation that has always characterized everything Rival does. We're boxing people!