Expert: Jack Rose - 1/27/2009

Question
Why is it that fighters wrap their hands differently?  Isn't there a norm, rule to follow? and also, in the case of Mosley-Margarito fight last Sat. 1/24/09. Margarito's trainer went on record to say he had "prepared" his fighter's gauze for over a week.  Do trainers do that? Do fighters prepare their gauze in any way, shape or form? and lastly, aren't there officials present at the time the fighter's hands are wrapped to oversee this?  Thank you in advance for your time!!!

Answer
Victor,

As long as you stay within the rules you can wrap your hands anyway you want. But there are some guidelines that need to be followed in order to do an effective job. Most seasoned trainers do a similar wrap job although probably not exactly the same. Good coverage of the knuckles, secure the base of the thumb and secure the wrist.

There should be nothing else on the hand except gauze and athletic tape. There cannot be any tape covering the knuckles. There's really nothing to it. You don't need to prepare gauze, there's nothing to prepare, you buy it, take it out of the wrapper and put it on. It shold not be wet or anything else. There is no preparation of gauze. I don't know what he meant "prepared" unless he was just trying to sensationalize how difficult it is to wrap hands or he was doing something he shouldn't be doing. But it is simple, you buy gauze, wrap the hand staying within the rules, tape it, the end.

Yes, a commissioner from that state has to be present when the hands are wrapped. After the trainer wraps the hands, the commissioner puts his initials on the back of the hand wraps. In some states, the wraps are confiscated by a commissioner after the bout for inspection to make sure nothing was done between the dressing room and the end of the fight.

thanks...
later,
Jackson