Cleto Reyes

The Cleto Reyes brand was originally created by Cleto Reyes Castro. Cleto was born in Mexico City in 1920 and grew up in a poor environment due to poor family circumstances. At the age of 12 he had to work to earn money.

The special story behind the world-famous brand Cleto Reyes

Cleto left school to work in a factory sewing baseball gloves. This is where he first came into contact with leather products and leather processing. Cleto was homeless at a young age. He slept in the same place where he worked. This workshop - which he also considered his home - brought out the young Reyes' creative talents. After his working day, Cleto continued with the sewing machines, to further develop his skills and arts. He could experiment to his heart's content in the workshop with residual products.

At a later age - Cleto was around 16 years old - Reyes started to become interested in boxing and started to train himself in it. At that time (and still today), many top boxers came from Mexico. In the sports arena nearby, Cleto closely followed his idols and top fighters from Mexico. Joe Condo, Rodolfo Casanova and Juan Zarita were the top fighters at the time and competitors of each other.

In 1938, Cleto signed up for a local boxing tournament. This was the first and last time that Cleto Reyes would enter the ring as a participant. Cleto was hit hard during this tournament, but the spectators were very impressed by the young Mexican.

The origin of the Cleto Reyes boxing gloves

This particular event gave birth to what would later become the most famous boxing brand in the world. After these tough matches, Cleto decided not to fight anymore. This despite the support he had received from the enthusiastic audience. But the craftsman in Cleto was encouraged even more. He decided to renew and improve the boxing gloves worn.

Cleto spent a number of years adjusting, testing and improving his own Cleto Reyes boxing gloves before finally launching them on the market. And with success, because in 1945 the first world professional boxing championship was held with the boxing gloves of Cleto Reyes.

"The Choice of Champions"

The growth of the Mexican boxing brand

In the early 1950s, Cleto had gathered sufficient resources to set up and equip his own workshop. From here he sold his now famous boxing gloves to Mexican boxers. Their trainers helped Cleto spread the word about his brand and unique gloves by taking and selling them during sports trips to the United States.

Things went fast from 1965 onwards, as it was only officially distributed on the American market from then on. Demand increased so much that Cleto's son, Alberto Reyes, started working full-time in his father's business. Albert brought new fresh ideas and better business sense to guide the brand into a new era.

Alberto Reyes visited and attracted new leather suppliers to develop and use lighter and more durable leather for the new models of Cleto Reyes boxing gloves. The product was also standardized into one uniform quality standard. He also officially registered Cleto Reyes as a brand name and trademark in 1975.

Cleto Reyes unfortunately passed away in 1999, but his legacy lives on in the great boxing gloves that this family business produces in Mexico to this day. The company is still based in Mexico City. The special brand can be proud of the many boxing legends who use and used nothing but Cleto Reyes. Famous names like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Joshua are just some of the icons who swear by this brand.

Cleto now has a complete range of boxing articles in the very highest segment. They produce everything from head protectors to kidney and groin protectors, hand pads and body armor. At Fight2Win we are proud to have a very large part of the Cleto Reyes range in stock in our boxing store.

"Used by the greatest. The ultimate punchers glove."

Top boxers choose Cleto Reyes

In 1945, Ike Williams became the first world boxing champion to wear the Cleto Reyes boxing gloves during his bouts and preparations. Today, the majority of world champions have trained or fought with the famous gloves of Cleto Reyes.

The Puncher's Glove

Cleto Reyes are internationally renowned for the unprecedented craftsmanship and unprecedented quality that all products exude. Here we work with passion and love on the best boxing articles in the world! In the boxing world, Cleto's are known as the “punchers gloves” because they provide a light and balanced feeling. In addition, they are quite compact compared to many other brands and - most important of all factors - they have a unique, special filling with an inner layer of horsehair. This has the property of compressing and hardening and forming according to use.

In addition to the original Velcro Sparring Gloves, Fight2Win also has the Cleto Reyes High Precision , Extra Padding and of course classic Lace boxing gloves in its range. Read more about Cleto Reyes' boxing gloves in our article under the heading boxing gloves .

"The Reyes boxing gloves are what you use if you want to knock people out."

The Greatest of All Time: Mohammed Ali

Muhammad Ali, originally named Cassius Clay, obviously needs no introduction. The most famous - and for many also the best - boxer of all time is a real boxing icon and 'larger than life'. In 1978 he gave the Cleto Reyes brand an extra special boost. Ali refused to use the sponsor's boxing gloves during his top match “the Thrilla in Manila”. He swore by his own trusted Cleto Reyes. However, he was told to tape over Cleto's logo so that the sponsor would not be discredited. However, Mohammed Ali – rebellious as he was – had the tape removed by his trainer during the match, so that the famous Cleto Reyes logo was clearly visible.

"I don't fight if it's not with Cleto Reyes gloves."

Ali also wore the Cleto Reyes boxing gloves during his very last match against Leon Spinks. He won and regained his heavyweight world boxing title!