Boxing protective gear
Groin guards, abdominal belts, coach body protectors, chest guards and cutman gear: protection for the fighter and the corner
The essentials: two distinct families in this collection. What the fighter wears — groin guards, a pro model in genuine leather, the Japanese Winning CPS-500 benchmark, and an abdominal belt with an integrated cup. And what the person taking the shots wears — coach body protectors in 60 and 80 mm, and a chest guard covering the whole torso. Plus corner gear: a cutman wristband and a medical enswell. Children's sizes from 100 cm. Real stock, worldwide shipping.
In combat sports, protecting the trunk and the lower body follows a simple logic that is often forgotten: not everyone is protecting themselves from the same thing. The fighter wants to absorb a misplaced shot without losing mobility; the coach holding the session wants to offer a firm target for an hour without ending up with bruised ribs. These are two different products, and confusing them is the single biggest buying mistake in this category.
Still hesitating on your discipline? Our guide on which combat sport to choose helps you decide before you buy.
🥊 What the fighter wears
Groin guards. Also called a cup or a groin protector. Three levels. The anatomical groin guard: a moulded shell under a PU shell, elastic hook-and-loop straps, machine washable, and above all 5 sizes from 110 to 190 cm of height, which covers children's classes. The pro guard in genuine leather: wide belt, adjustable rear lacing, 330 g, in black or white, S to XL. And the Winning CPS-500, hand-made in Japan, 320 g, in 5 colours and 4 Japanese sizes.
Abdominal belt with integrated cup. A step up from a guard alone: the abdominal belt with integrated cup comes up over the lower abdomen and wraps the hips, where hooks land at the edge of what the rules allow. PU leather, high-density foam, adjustable lacing, one size, 3 colourways in a Spartan design.
🥋 What the person taking the shots wears
Coach body protectors. The coach's abdominal shield, in two thicknesses depending on the discipline. The boxing body protector is built for mobility: 60 mm of high-density foam for just 1.1 kg, ideal for running body-punch sessions. The MMA and Muay Thai body protector goes up to 80 mm over 45 x 35 cm to take middle kicks and knees.
Chest guard. When the session goes beyond pure body work, the chest guard covers the whole torso: chest, abdomen, ribs, liver and solar plexus. 45 mm of foam in stitched anti-vibration compartments, PU leather, clip straps. Its particularity: 3 sizes from 100 to 190 cm, which means it fits a child as well as an adult coach.
🩹 Corner gear
Between rounds, the cutman has one minute. The kit has to be ready beforehand, never during.
The cutman wristband carries a stainless vaseline box with a lid on the wrist, plus slots for swabs: everything stays within finger reach and both hands stay free. The medical enswell — in medical-grade stainless steel, with a curved 4 x 8 cm face — limits swelling around the brows and cheekbones. Available in 3 models.
🎯 Who wears what?
The table that prevents the most common buying mistake in this category.
| Equipment | Worn by | Area covered |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical groin guard | The fighter | Lower body |
| Pro belted groin guard | The fighter | Groin and lower abdomen |
| Winning CPS-500 | The fighter | Groin and lower abdomen |
| Abdominal belt with cup | The fighter | Lower abdomen, hips, lower body |
| 60 mm body protector | The person taking the shots | Abdomen and ribs |
| 80 mm body protector | The person taking the shots | Abdomen, ribs, flanks |
| Chest guard | The person taking the shots | The whole torso |
| Cutman wristband and enswell | The cornerman | Corner treatment kit |
The trap to know: a coach body protector and an abdominal protection belt have similar names but opposite purposes. The first is worn by the person taking the shots, over their clothes, as a training target. The second is worn by the fighter themselves, under the shorts, and includes a cup.
📏 Size guides
Three sizing logics coexist in this collection. Take the right measurement before ordering: protection worn against the body is subject to specific return conditions across the whole sector, for hygiene reasons.
| Product | Reference measurement | Range covered |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomical groin guard | Height | XS 110-130, S 130-150, M 150-160, L 160-170, XL 170-190 cm |
| Pro genuine leather guard | Waist | S 76-81, M 82-87, L 88-93, XL 94-100 cm |
| Winning CPS-500 | Waist (Japanese sizing) | M 73-83, L 78-88, 2L 83-93, 3L 88-98 cm |
| Chest guard | Height | S 100-140, M 140-160, L 160-190 cm |
| Body protectors and abdominal belt | One size | Hook-and-loop or lace adjustment |
Two simple rules: between two sizes, take the larger (lacing or hook-and-loop takes up the slack, the reverse is not true), and remember that Winning runs in Japanese sizing, narrower than a European size.
🥋 Is a groin guard compulsory?
Genital protection appears in the equipment required or strongly recommended by most combat sports federations. The precise rules — type of shell, permitted material, whether reinforced abdominal protection is allowed — vary by federation, by discipline and by amateur or professional status. Always check the rules in force before an official competition.
In training the question is different: from the very first sparring session, a guard should be worn systematically, including by juniors. In English boxing, shots below the belt are illegal, which prevents neither mistimed counters nor accidental contact in close quarters.
🧼 Care and hygiene
- Genuine leather: wipe dry or barely damp, air dry. Never a machine, never immersion, never a radiator — leather hardens and cracks.
- PU leather and microfibre: damp cloth, and a neutral disinfectant on equipment shared in a club. Dry at room temperature.
- Anatomical groin guard: the only protection in the collection that is machine washable, from 30 °C. No tumble dryer.
- Stainless cutman gear: full disinfection after every bout, then dry before storage.
Always air kit outside the bag between sessions: it is the habit that prevents odours and extends the life of the foams.
📦 The Esprit Boxe way
Ordering with us means dealing with a team that trains: real stock, free standard shipping, fast dispatch and expert advice to match the protection to your practice. We supply individuals, clubs and gyms across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. Unsure about a size, or kitting out a club? Write to info@esprit-boxe.com.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a coach body protector and a protection belt?
They are opposite pieces of equipment despite similar names. The body protector is worn by the person taking the shots — the coach holding the session — over their clothes, as a training target. The abdominal protection belt is worn by the fighter, under their shorts, and includes a cup to protect the lower abdomen and groin.
How do I choose the size of a boxing groin guard?
It depends on the model. The anatomical guard is chosen on height, from 110 to 190 cm. The pro genuine leather guard is chosen on waist, measured just above the hips: S from 76 to 81 cm up to XL from 94 to 100 cm. The Winning CPS-500 follows Japanese sizing, from M 73-83 cm to 3L 88-98 cm, narrower than a European size. Between two sizes, always take the larger.
Is a groin guard compulsory in competition?
It appears in the equipment required or strongly recommended by most combat sports federations, but the rules vary by federation, discipline and amateur or professional status. Some even regulate reinforced abdominal protection. Check the rules in force before any official competition. In training it is strongly advised from the first sparring session.
Do you have protection for children?
Yes, two products go down to children's classes. The anatomical groin guard comes in XS for a height of 110 to 130 cm and S for 130 to 150 cm. The chest guard starts at 100 cm in size S. That is rare on the market, where most models start at an adult size.
Anatomical guard or pro belted guard: which should I choose?
The anatomical guard is held by wide elastic straps: light, discreet, machine washable, it is enough to start, for a children's class and for moderate contact. The pro guard sits on a wide belt with rear lacing: it covers higher, spreads the load across the hips and does not move over consecutive rounds. If you spar hard every week, the pro version suits better.
Chest guard or body protector for holding a session?
The body protector concentrates on the abdomen and ribs: lighter and more mobile, it suits body work and long sessions. The chest guard covers the whole torso and becomes necessary as soon as the session includes high shots, kicks or free sparring. Many clubs own both and choose by session content.
60 mm or 80 mm body protector?
It depends on the discipline, not the budget. The 60 mm version, lighter at 1.1 kg, is made for English boxing and coaches running punch sessions back to back. The 80 mm version, thicker and wider at 45 x 35 cm, is sized for MMA and Muay Thai, where middle kicks and knees deliver more energy.
Groin guard or cup: are they the same thing?
Yes, two names for the same equipment. Cup is the usual term in American gyms, groin guard the one used by most international brands and in British clubs. You will also see groin protector and lower protection.
What is a boxing enswell for?
Also called a no-swell iron, it is a stainless steel plate with a handle that the cutman chills in an ice bucket and then presses on the brows, cheekbones and around the eye between rounds. Cold combined with compression limits swelling. It is never applied to an open wound, which is a matter for the ringside doctor.
How do I care for boxing protection?
Genuine leather is wiped dry or barely damp and air dried: no machine, no immersion, no radiator. PU leather and microfibre take a damp cloth and a neutral disinfectant, useful on kit shared in a club. Only the anatomical groin guard goes in the machine, from 30 °C. In every case, air the kit outside the bag between sessions.
🛒 The Esprit Boxe world
- boxing gloves — hand protection, from beginner to competitor.
- boxing headgear — essential to move up to sparring safely.
- mouthguards — jaw and teeth protection.
- hand wraps — worn under the gloves to protect the joints.
- focus mitts and Thai pads — the coach's target kit, the natural companion to a body protector.
- punching bags — for solo work.
- boxing rings — to equip your club or gym.
Need a broader view? See our boxing equipment guide. See also our shin guards for Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA. For the corner: cutman equipment, stainless steel enswell and vaseline wristband.