Reason why boxers put vaseline on their faces between rounds during fights

Boxing fans will be familiar with the sight of vaseline being applied to the faces of the sport's biggest names.

Ahead of a fight, boxers will have vaseline dabbed on their faces by cutmen ringside, and they'll get a fresh application in between rounds.

It's particularly applied to areas likely to face the most impact, so viewers will most likely see the most vaseline on boxers' faces - particularly on the nose, lips, cheekbones and below the eyebrows. It can also be applied to other areas of the body, such as the shoulders and chest.

Unfortunately, the vaseline won't make any punches less painful.

But it can provide an advantage through stopping punches connecting properly, because the skin becomes 'slippery'. For example, putting vaseline on the skin helps keep it soft and stretchy, instead of dried out, so it's less likely to tear when a fighter gets hit as vaseline helps to reduce friction.

And it can help treat open wounds during the fight.

Mixed with coagulant, vaseline can be applied to cuts to slow bleeding and give some protection to the area.

However, there is an art to how much a cutman will apply.

Jake Paul defeated UFC legend Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in their boxing fight last year. (Image: Getty)

That's because too much vaseline could run in to a boxer's eyes and limit their performance.

Speaking about the art of applying vaseline, cutman Kerry Kayes told told the BBC: "The Vaseline stops abrasion of the glove. Don't forget, a glove is leather. If you get hit square on, there's no abrasion.

"But think of it like striking a match. If that glove glides on the face it can cause an abrasion. I watched the Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder fight and nobody put Vaseline on Fury's face for three rounds. Watch it back. Did you see how many marks he had on his face after it?

"So Vaseline is a very important compound that will let the glove slide across it."

The application of vaseline may be common in the sport of boxing, but in other combat sports it is known as 'greasing' and forbidden. For example, it is banned in judo and wrestling because it affects grappling.