Everlast
American boxing, mixed martial arts, fitness equipment, sportswear, and gym brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Everlast is an American sporting-goods brand best known for boxing equipment and its long association with professional combat sports. The business began in 1910 in the Bronx, New York, when 17-year-old Jacob Golomb, the son of a tailor and an enthusiastic swimmer, started making swimwear designed to survive longer than competing products. Golomb reportedly guaranteed that his suits would last for more than a year, giving rise to the Everlast name. The company was initially run with members of the Golomb family and later broadened its activities from swimwear into a much wider range of sporting goods. Everlast entered boxing equipment in 1917 after boxer Jack Dempsey sought headgear capable of lasting through a lengthy bout. Boxing subsequently became the center of the brand’s identity. Everlast developed gloves, headgear, hand wraps, protective equipment, punch mitts, heavy bags, speed bags, rings, ring accessories, and other training products. Its equipment was used or endorsed by numerous prominent fighters, including Roberto Durán, Joe Frazier, Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Muhammad Ali. These relationships, together with the visibility of its products in televised fights, helped establish Everlast as one of the most recognizable names in boxing. The company’s visual identity was strengthened during the leadership of Jacob Golomb’s son Daniel, who enlarged the Everlast logo on boxing gloves to improve recognition on television. Ownership and management changed several times during the second half of the twentieth century. Ben Nadorf acquired a half interest in Everlast Sports Manufacturing Corporation in 1958 and became its sole owner in 1995. In 2000, the brand was acquired by George Horowitz’s Active Apparel Group, which had previously manufactured sportswear under license. Sports Direct, the British retail group now known as Frasers Group, acquired Everlast Worldwide in 2007. Under Frasers Group ownership, Everlast has continued to operate as a global combat-sports and fitness brand. Its range includes boxing and mixed martial arts equipment, protective gear, training accessories, apparel, footwear, and fitness products. Boxing equipment is associated with manufacturing in Moberly, Missouri, while other products are produced through overseas suppliers and licensees. The company also retains a connection with organized training through Everlast Gyms in the United Kingdom. Frasers Group created the chain after acquiring numerous former DW Sports Fitness locations from administration in 2020; by late 2023, the network had nearly 60 sites across the four countries of the United Kingdom. Everlast’s positioning combines technical combat-sports credibility with broader consumer fitness accessibility. Its core reputation remains rooted in boxing, while expansion into mixed martial arts, gym operations, training apparel, footwear, and general fitness equipment has widened the addressable market. The brand markets internationally and serves both professional and amateur users, from fight camps and gyms to home-training consumers. Its history of fighter associations and equipment development gives it a specialist image, while its clothing and gym businesses extend the name beyond the ring.
History
Everlast was established in 1910 in the Bronx by Jacob Golomb, who began by producing durable swimwear. Golomb was 17 at the time and came from a tailoring family. The brand name expressed the product promise that the swimsuits would outlast ordinary alternatives. He initially worked with his brothers Morris and, from around 1915, Benjamin. The decisive change in the company’s direction came in 1917, when boxer Jack Dempsey asked Everlast to create headgear that could withstand more than 15 rounds. This request led the company into boxing equipment and eventually made boxing its defining business. Everlast developed a broad equipment portfolio, including gloves, headgear, protective clothing, hand wraps, bags, mitts, rings, and ring furnishings. Its products became closely associated with major fighters and televised professional boxing. The brand sponsored or was associated with figures such as Roberto Durán, Joe Frazier, Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Muhammad Ali. Jacob Golomb died in the 1950s and was succeeded as company leader by his son Daniel. During Daniel’s tenure, the Everlast logo on boxing gloves was enlarged, improving the brand’s visibility to television audiences. Benjamin Golomb later left the company and founded Benlee Sporting Goods Manufacturing Company, whose name combined a shortened form of Benjamin with his wife’s first name. Everlast experienced further ownership changes in the late twentieth century. Ben Nadorf purchased a 50 percent interest in Everlast Sports Manufacturing Corporation in 1958 and became the sole owner in 1995. In 2000, George Horowitz’s Active Apparel Group acquired the company. Active Apparel had manufactured men’s and women’s sportswear under an Everlast license, and the transaction reinforced the brand’s move into clothing alongside its traditional equipment business. In 2007, Sports Direct acquired Everlast Worldwide. Sports Direct later became Frasers Group, which remains the parent group. The company has maintained production of boxing equipment in the United States, including at a factory in Moberly, Missouri. Other goods have been manufactured outside the United States by licensees and international suppliers. Everlast also produced boxing equipment at a facility in the Port Morris section of the Bronx from the 1980s until 2003. During the twenty-first century, Everlast broadened its activity into mixed martial arts and general physical fitness while retaining boxing as its central area of expertise. The brand’s range now includes fight gloves, protective equipment, bags, rings, training accessories, clothing, footwear, and fitness products. In the United Kingdom, Frasers Group extended the name into bricks-and-mortar fitness through Everlast Gyms. After acquiring several former DW Sports Fitness locations from administration in 2020, Frasers Group converted or operated them under the Everlast banner. By late 2023, the gym chain had nearly 60 branches across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Everlast therefore operates as both a heritage equipment label and a broader sports and fitness platform. Its historical authority comes from boxing and fighter relationships, while its current commercial scope includes mixed martial arts, consumer fitness, sportswear, footwear, licensing, retail distribution, and gym services.
- 2023
Everlast Gyms reaches nearly 60 sites
[1]By late 2023, the United Kingdom gym chain has nearly 60 branches across all four constituent countries.
- 2020
Everlast Gyms is introduced in the United Kingdom
[1]Frasers Group begins developing the Everlast Gyms chain after acquiring former DW Sports Fitness locations from administration.
- 2016
Recognition in mixed martial arts equipment
[1]Everlast receives its fifth World MMA Awards recognition for Best Technical Equipment Brand, according to the brand history.
- 2007
Sports Direct acquires Everlast Worldwide
[1]The British retail group acquires Everlast Worldwide; Sports Direct subsequently becomes Frasers Group.
- 2003
Bronx equipment factory closes
[1]Everlast’s boxing-equipment production at its Port Morris, Bronx facility ends after operating there from the 1980s.
- 2000
Active Apparel Group acquires Everlast
[1]George Horowitz’s Active Apparel Group acquires the brand after having manufactured Everlast sportswear under license.
- 1995
Ben Nadorf becomes sole owner
[1]Nadorf completes the transition to sole ownership of Everlast Sports Manufacturing Corporation.
- 1958
Ben Nadorf acquires a half interest
[1]Ben Nadorf purchases 50 percent of Everlast Sports Manufacturing Corporation.
- 1917
Everlast begins making boxing equipment
[1]A request from boxer Jack Dempsey for durable headgear leads Everlast into boxing products.
- 1915
Benjamin Golomb joins the family business
[1]Benjamin becomes involved in the company as it develops beyond its initial swimwear activity.
Products and positioning
A specialist combat-sports and fitness brand combining professional boxing heritage with accessible equipment, apparel, footwear, and gym services.
Boxing equipment · 1917
Boxing gloves
Boxing gloves are Everlast’s signature product category and a major source of its visual identity. The range serves training, sparring, and competition-related use, with models designed for different levels of protection and activity. Everlast gloves have been associated with professional boxing for decades and are sold to both gyms and individual consumers.
Combat-sports equipment
Protective fight gear
Everlast produces protective equipment for boxing and related combat sports, including headgear, body protectors, mouthguards, groin protection, and hand wraps. These products support training and sparring by reducing exposure to impact and helping athletes prepare under gym conditions.
Training equipment
Punching bags and mitts
The brand’s bag and mitt portfolio includes punching bags, speed bags, heavy bags, and punch or focus mitts. These products are used for striking practice, conditioning, timing, and technique work in professional facilities, commercial gyms, and home-training environments.
Gym and event equipment
Boxing rings and ring accessories
Everlast markets boxing rings and associated components such as corner stools, canvases, ropes, and corner cushions. This line extends the brand from individual training products to complete gym and bout infrastructure.
Mixed martial arts equipment
MMA equipment
Everlast’s mixed martial arts offering extends its combat-sports expertise beyond traditional boxing. It includes fight gloves, protective products, training equipment, and related apparel intended for MMA athletes and fitness users.
Apparel
Sportswear
Everlast’s clothing line includes T-shirts, sleeveless tops, hoodies, leggings, shorts, trousers, and compression garments. The apparel combines the brand’s fight-sports styling with broader training and casual fitness use.
Sportswear
Footwear
The brand also markets sneakers and other sports footwear. These products broaden Everlast’s consumer offer beyond equipment and provide footwear for training, gym use, and everyday sportswear.
Fitness services · 2020
Everlast Gyms
Everlast Gyms is a United Kingdom fitness-club chain operated within the Frasers Group portfolio. It uses the Everlast name for gym facilities and training services, linking the heritage combat-sports brand with broader strength, conditioning, and general fitness activity.
Brand decisions
2020
Extend the brand into gymsStrategyBackground
Frasers Group acquired a number of DW Sports Fitness locations after the operator entered administration.
Action taken
The group began operating and developing fitness clubs under the Everlast Gyms name.
Aftermath
The brand gained a physical fitness-services presence in the United Kingdom, reaching nearly 60 branches by late 2023.
2007
Join the Sports Direct portfolioM&ABackground
Everlast had developed into an international combat-sports and sportswear brand with licensing and manufacturing activities.
Action taken
Sports Direct acquired Everlast Worldwide.
Aftermath
Everlast became part of the group that later adopted the Frasers Group name and continued to develop the brand across retail, sportswear, equipment, and fitness.
2000
Sell the brand to Active Apparel GroupM&ABackground
Active Apparel Group had already manufactured men’s and women’s sportswear under license for Everlast.
Action taken
George Horowitz’s Active Apparel Group acquired Everlast.
Aftermath
The transaction reinforced Everlast’s expansion from equipment into licensed and owned sportswear.
1917
Enter the boxing-equipment marketProduct launchBackground
Everlast’s initial business centered on durable swimwear, but boxer Jack Dempsey sought headgear that could withstand a long bout.
Action taken
The company developed boxing headgear and subsequently expanded into gloves, protective equipment, bags, mitts, and ring equipment.
Aftermath
Boxing became the foundation of Everlast’s brand identity and its most important area of specialist credibility.
Recent events
Everlast unveils First Is Strong initiative[3]
Reported:
Everlast introduced its “First Is Strong” initiative as part of its Be First campaign, sharing stories of boxing promoter Kathy Duva, athlete Heather Hardy, and journalist Kris Herndon.
Sources3 sources
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