Competition18 cm / 7 in gongSolid wood baseHammer included
The essentials: a ring gong 18 cm / 7 in across in polished chrome metal, engraved Esprit Boxe — For the Glory in gold, mounted on a solid wood base of around 30 x 20 cm / 12 x 8 in. A hammer with a gold-finished T handle is included, held by two clips on a plate screwed to the base. €169, free standard delivery.
The instrument that divides the fight
The gong is not struck by the referee but by the timekeeper, seated outside the ring: the sound has to carry to both corners over the noise of the hall. That is what decides the diameter of the disc and the mass of the base.
This 18 cm / 7 in chrome-plated model, on a solid wood base of roughly 30 x 20 cm / 12 x 8 in, is the club and training-hall format: enough carry for a gym, compact enough to stay on the timekeeper's table.
Three minutes, one minute, ten seconds: those three durations are of no use until a signal makes them audible to both corners and the whole hall at once. That is the job of the gong. It opens the round, it stops it, it sends the boxers to their rest and it sends them back to the centre. A clock shows the time; the gong imposes it.
What you receive
A domed gong 18 cm / 7 in across in polished chrome metal, fixed by a central screw to a wooden plate. The dome carries the Esprit Boxe mark and the For the Glory line, engraved in gold across the top of the cap.
The hammer is a knurled metal rod ending in a gold-finished T handle. It stows to the right of the gong, held by two clips mounted on a metal plate screwed into the wood: it stays on the base between rounds and is not hunted for at the moment of striking.
The base is solid wood, dark brown, with rounded corners. Set on a timekeeper's table at the ring apron, the whole thing lifts in one hand and moves from one hall to another.
Technical specifications
The tip: the gong gives the signal, it does not count the time. In a club the pairing that works is the gong at the ring apron and a digital boxing round timer set to your round and rest durations: the timer counts down, the timekeeper strikes.
You may also like
- 25 cm ring gong — a 25 cm dome, matt black finish, mallet with a shaft — if you want to carry the sound to the back of a tiered hall.
- Digital boxing round timer — programmable countdown of rounds and rests — if you want to manage the time without a timekeeper.
- Ring rope spacers — hold the spacing of the four ropes — if you are equipping the ring itself.
Going further
Frequently asked questions
What is a ring gong for in boxing?
To open and close each round. The rules published in 1867 set rounds of three minutes separated by one minute of rest: the gong is the signal that makes those limits audible at the same instant to both boxers, both corners, the referee and the crowd. One strike marks the start of the round, one strike marks its end.
Which size of ring gong should you choose?
The diameter of the dome governs the volume. The 18 cm / 7 in covers a club hall and a training ring, taking around 30 x 20 cm / 12 x 8 in of table. The 25 cm model carries further and takes a base of 40 x 30 cm / 16 x 12 in: that is the format for shows and tiered halls.
Is the hammer supplied with the gong?
Yes, it is part of the product. It is a knurled metal rod with a gold-finished T handle, stowed on the base by two clips screwed into the wood. Nothing else to buy: the gong works straight out of the box, with no batteries and nothing to plug in.
Why are ten bells struck in tribute to a boxer?
Because ten is the referee's count. The 1867 rules give a downed boxer ten seconds to rise unaided; past that, the fight is over. Striking the gong ten times for a champion who has died is a way of saying he did not get up. The custom is followed across every ring sport and is observed standing, in silence, before the first bout of the evening.
Can it be used outside competition?
Yes. In a club it paces sparring and bag work in three-minute series. Set on a shelf, with its wooden base and engraved chrome dome, it also works as a piece of boxing decor in an office or a home gym.
How do you look after a chrome gong?
A soft dry cloth on the dome, which shows fingerprints like any polished chrome. No scouring powder or abrasive sponge, which would scratch the finish and the gold engraving. The wooden base takes a barely damp cloth, without letting it soak.
