Your analogies don't make much sense. On one hand, yes, marathoners would benefit from lighter gear. On the other, they rarely change direction and so their lo

Your analogies don't make much sense. On one hand, yes, marathoners would benefit from lighter gear. On the other, they rarely change direction and so their lower extremities don't have to fight against the added weight. Boxing is a punching sport. Boxing gloves are heavier than MMA gloves because boxers throw far more punches than other combat sports and need more hand protection. There's tens of millions of dollars being invested on a yearly basis into research regarding shoe construction. Teams don't make decisions about shoes for players. Players and trainers make those decisions.