In a sport where profits are grossly prioritized over safety and innovation, one man has decided to walk the narrow path and challenge this standard. That man is Ozhan Akcakaya, the founder and CEO of Hit N Move. With his powerful mantra, “Boxing Deserves Better,” Ozhan is doing more than just designing new boxing gear. Instead, he has made it his mission to revolutionize the sport through strict standards of innovation, quality, and authenticity.
For Ozhan, “Boxing Deserves Better” isn’t just a catchy slogan—it’s a mission. It’s a philosophy that challenges the outdated norms of the industry and puts fighters’ needs ahead of profit-driven shortcuts. From his roots as an amateur boxer to his rise as an industry leader, Ozhan’s story is all about commitment: to the sport, to the athletes, and to a vision of gear that sets new standards.
What “Boxing Deserves Better” Really Means
When Ozhan says, “Boxing Deserves Better,” he’s calling out long-standing problems within the boxing industry. For years, companies have prioritised flashy branding over functionality, churning out generic designs that fail to address athletes’ real needs for safety and performance.
“Fighters deserve more,” Ozhan says. “They deserve boxing gloves that protect, perform, and empower them in the ring.” He speaks from experience, having been in the ring himself and endured the grind. This isn’t just a business opportunity for him—it’s personal. Where others saw flaws, Ozhan capitalises on the opportunity to innovate.
How Hit N Move is Revolutionizing Boxing Gear
Hit N Move was born out of a desire to address the real challenges Ozhan himself faced when he was an amateur boxer. The original idea was to create gear that he felt he needed and then share it with the people facing the same struggle. Finding much success he now invests heavily out of his own pocket to run tests with medical experts, scientists, engineers and professional boxers. Together they identify the key issues among boxing gear today and capitalise on the blessings of modern-day technology to give fighters the gear they deserve.
This is especially clear when you discover the product Hit N Move has put out and realise that none of their competitor’s gear looks anything like it. That’s because each product in the Hit N Move lineup reflects Ozhan’s passion for innovation and his commitment to creating tools that elevate athletes’ performance.
Game-Changing Innovations
- Turtle Mitts: Lightweight and ergonomic, these mitts reduce strain during training sessions, making them a favourite among top fighters and coaches. Unlike traditional mitts, they’re built for comfort and durability, even during long training hours.
- Precision Headgear: Tested by Virginia Tech Labs, this headgear provides advanced protection while maintaining mobility, ensuring fighters stay safe without sacrificing performance.
- DR-T Padding: Inspired by the aerodynamic design of a dart, this padding optimizes weight distribution to enhance punching mechanics and reduce injury risks. It’s a groundbreaking feature in professional boxing gloves.
- 24oz Gloves: A hybrid design that combines the conditioning benefits of heavier gloves with the practicality of sparring gear. These gloves are a game-changer for both training and sparring.
- Reflex Trainer: Featuring a unique shock-absorbing system, this training tool offers fighters realistic simulations, helping them improve agility, timing, and precision.
The Philosophy Behind Hit N Move
Ozhan often says the one thing that will always separate Hit N Move from their competitors is their unwavering independence. “I don’t wake up in the morning and answer to investors,” he states. This freedom allows him to focus entirely on creating gear that makes a real difference for fighters. Every product undergoes rigorous testing by professionals, including orthopedic surgeons and athletes, to ensure the highest standards of quality, safety, and functionality.
For Ozhan, “Boxing Deserves Better” isn’t just about the gear—it’s about raising the standard for the entire sport. It’s about preventing fighters from having to keep their hands in bowls of ice after training because of the excruciating pain. It’s about preventing speech impediments from repetitive blows to a lazily designed headgear. His approach honours the fighters who dedicate a majority of their health and life to the sport by embracing innovation to make the best gear accessible to everyone.
The Man Behind the Mission
Where it all began
Ozhan’s journey is a testament to grit, determination, and passion. But where did it all start? Growing up in Türkiye, Ozhan was always a little brighter than the other kids his age. Passing high school without difficulty Ozhan decided university was the best path for him.
Mastering Language and Building Foundations
While studying at university in Türkiye, Ozhan pursued his degree in English and developed his fluency by reading extensively across subjects like biology and history. He kept a journal of new words, crafting sentences to memorize them and eliminating filler words like “umm” and “em.” He even translated movies into Turkish, which accelerated his mastery of the language. Scoring one of the highest TOEFL scores, he earned a scholarship to study in England. During this time, he worked for 2-3 years in England while also spending summers in the U.S. as a lifeguard supervisor to fund his education.
Rising Through the Ranks in Business
After marrying his long-time girlfriend, Ozhan moved to the U.S. and began his career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where he quickly rose to become the fastest branch manager from the ground up. His skills were soon recognized by pharmaceutical companies, and he joined Horizon Pharma, winning the President’s Club and relocating to Chicago as a national sales trainer. Living in a high-rise overlooking North Canal Street, Ozhan continued to hone his business acumen. Later, he moved to the D.C. area, choosing Alexandria, Virginia, as the perfect location to be close to both Washington, D.C. and his roots in Baltimore, Maryland, where he had spent significant time and first met Calvin Ford.
A Champion in the Ring
After first discovering boxing in Baltimore Ozhan would develop a passion for the sport and even decide to live out an amateur career while balancing his salesman career. Eventually becoming an amateur master champion, Ozhan refuses to stop sharpening his craft with a diverse variety of boxing styles—Turkish, Soviet, American (Mayweather), and Cuban—perfecting his craft with discipline and dedication. Known for his featherweight-like hands and footwork, Ozhan is still relied on by several professional fighters to give them a few good rounds whenever they have an upcoming fight.
On top of his own experience, Ozhan has worked with elite coaches such as Patrice Harris, Calvin Ford, Lorenzo Reed, and Gabriel Gustava. Borrowing some of these coaches’ skills and experience to test and refine his innovative gear. Ozhan’s hands-on experience in the ring and network of expert coaches both allow him to create products that truly meet fighters’ needs.
Innovating Through Adversity
During his time in pharmaceutical sales, he not only became the number one salesman in the US seven times but also travelled across the States to train representatives, helping them refine their verbiage, opening, and closing techniques. Remarkably, he achieved all of this in his second language.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, with no access to gyms or sparring, Ozhan turned frustration into innovation. He founded Hit N Move and created the Boxing Reflex Trainer, even producing instructional videos to teach the world how to use it. Unsatisfied with the quality of existing gear, he expanded into designing gloves, DR-T padding, Turtle Mitts, 1.5-pound training gloves, headgear, and more. Every product goes through rigorous testing with professional fighters and is refined to perfection before hitting the market.
A Legacy of Excellence
Ozhan’s journey, both inside and outside the ring, reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and the fighters who inspire him.
Winning the Trust of the Boxing Community
Ozhan’s grassroots approach has earned Hit N Move a loyal following among fighters, trainers, and gyms. Instead of dedicating hundreds of hours to produce flashy marketing campaigns, he spends that time perfecting his gear and then lets the product speak for itself. Now thanks to his honest and integral approach, amateurs and world champions alike, trust Hit N Move because they know its founder shares their passion for the sport.
Despite Hit N Move never paying a fighter to use their gear, world-class champions such as Gervonta Davis, Mike Tyson and Henry Cejudo have all been spotted rocking the Hit N Move. From their 24oz All-Day training gloves to their new Precision headgear, there is no doubt Hit N Move has cemented its reputation as a brand that prioritises innovation, quality, and authenticity.
A Perfectionist’s Approach to Innovation
Ozhan’s dedication to excellence extends to every aspect of his work. He collaborates with orthopedic surgeons, sports scientists and athletes to refine each product until it meets his exacting standards. His commitment to improvement was evident recently with the release of his Precision headgear. After 3 years of testing at Virginia Tech Helmet Labs, Ozhan has created a headgear that has comparable protection to the top Japanese headgear, despite only being a fraction of the size and weight.
“Every day is an opportunity to improve,” Ozhan says. Whether it’s fine-tuning a product design or perfecting his own jab, his relentless drive for improvement defines everything he does.
The Future of Boxing Gear
Under Ozhan’s leadership, Hit N Move is setting the stage for the next evolution in boxing gear. By enhancing safety features, improving existing designs, and introducing innovative training tools, the company remains at the forefront of the industry.
For Ozhan, “Boxing Deserves Better” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a movement to uplift the sport, ensuring fighters have the tools they need to succeed.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Excellence
Ozhan Akcakaya’s journey from amateur boxer to industry trailblazer embodies the spirit of “Boxing Deserves Better.” His passion for innovation and commitment to athletes have redefined what boxing gear can be.
More than a business, Hit N Move is about creating a legacy—a movement to inspire change, honour the sport’s traditions, and serve the fighters who dedicate their lives to it. Thanks to Ozhan’s vision, boxing is finally getting the upgrade it deserves.