Champion's choice? No more.

Since the last bare-knuckle days of the 1880's, when boxers began protecting their hands with leather mittens, it had been the privilege of the champion and his promoter to select the brand of gloves that were to be used in the ring.

But this ritual changed in March, when officials at the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the nation's leading regulatory agency, voted unanimously to allow each fighter to choose his own brand of gloves -- provided the brands of gloves are not specified in a contract.

Some states have followed suit, and fighters are looking to take advantage. For tomorrow night's super-lightweight title fight, Arturo Gatti will use Everlast gloves, made in Moberly, Mo., and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will box with Winning gloves, made outside of Tokyo.

The differences in the gloves are distinct and range from the quality of leather to the location of the padding and stitch work.