Photo Credit: Robert Garcia Boxing Academy's Instagram
The Nike HyperKO's History
Manny Pacquiao was the perfect athlete at the time to market & promote Nike Boxing with hints of Nike Training which was an already reputable line for Nike.
Photo Credit: Athlete Performance Solutions Pinterest Account
Nike HyperKO MP Original Release Model in 2012
Although Pacman was representing the brand around 2008, Nike double down on his massive success where he incurred multiple world titles in different weight divisions that lead to one of the biggest fights in Boxing history with Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr.
A year after the Nike Machomai was conceived in 2008. Pacquiao fought Miguel Cotto November 14, 2009 and is wearing an Exclusive Issued Pair from Nike World Headquarters (Nike WHQ) Click Here for Image Credit / Source
Boxer Exclusive Nike Machomai Issued by Nike WHQ
Click Here for Image Credit / Source
My Own Image
Pacquiao at the time was a global sensation and Nike Boxing created a product that would mesmerize all levels of boxers who would deeply desire their latest boxing shoe known as the Nike HyperKO & Nike HyperKO MP (MP is Manny Pacquiao's initials and the MP monogram was designed by Nike). The 'MP' monogram would be stamped on the side wall of the Nike HyperKO MP variant while the regular HyperKO did not. The HyperKO was officially launched in Summer 2012 for the Olympic Games in London. and still retails in 2025 via APS's website.
The Original Release and Colorway of the Nike HyperKO MP
Although the Nike HyperKO 1 is still in circulation, Nike had to modify the boxing boot in 2016 with solely Nike branding because of Pacquiao's anti-gay remarks (remarks that were made on the basis of his religion & beliefs) which led to Nike severing ties with him. It also conflicted with Nike's marketing through the LGBT community via the "BE TRUE" campaign. "BE TRUE" had a big push for the brand and incorporated colors of the Pride Flag which can be seen below,
Nike HyperKO 1 'BE TRUE' in Volt/Pink/Black
2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro
For those who do not know, Nike Boxing is powered behind Athlete Performance Solutions. Here is a statement block quoted below from APS:
"Athlete Performance Solutions is a global footwear and apparel licensee of Nike Inc., marketing, distributing, and selling Nike's pinnacle, performance footwear, competition apparel, and word mark apparel for several sports."
Nike & APS terminated their working relationship with Manny Pacquiao and needed to fill a void. As a result, they chose rising prospect Jose Carlos Ramirez to keep the line going with substance. Ramirez inked a deal with Nike back in 2013 which was assisted by his former Boxing Promotional Company Top Rank who he signed with in 2012 right after the Olympic Games in London (
Click Here for Source Link).
Ramirez is Mexican-American which are two races and demographics that arguably cherish the sport of boxing to the fullest. An ideal target audience for Nike Boxing to market & promote products upon the "right" consumers.
A Portrait Shot of a Young Hungry Jose Carlos Ramirez
The Olympic Games is approaching 2020 and Nike is eager to create a new innovative product to be the successor of the HyperKO 1. The Nike Design Team oddly commits to Flyknit, a proprietary Nike technology, that was a huge success during 2012 through 2017 but faded out in popularity around 2018. The dated technology was probably selected due to the following reasons listed below,
- Sock Conforming Like Feel
- It Being Lightweight
- Its Breathability
- A Proven Material That is Familiar & Cost Effective
Components that were probably deemed ideal for a new innovative boxing shoe.
Ramirez steps in as the face of the upcoming boxing boot and Nike Reps decide to trial the shoe through him along with Robert Garcia who became his head coach in 2018. Its the perfect platform for Nike Reps to get constructive criticism before its mass production.
The trialing of the HyperKO 2 through Robert Garcia was achieved by two things: His working relationship with Ramirez, a Nike Athlete, and his breed house of boxers known as the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy (RGBA) located in Oxnard, California at the time. RGBA is filled with determined boxers hoping to have a huge breakthrough in the professional ranks under the tutelage of Garcia.
Jose Carlos Ramirez hitting the heavy bag with a customized pair of Nike HyperKO 2s (2022).
On July 27, 2019 Ramirez debuted the Nike HyperKO 2 versus our local (Dallas, Texas) talent Maurice Hooker (
Follow Mighty Mo on Instagram by Clicking Here). Ramirez wore a stealthy colorway of mostly Black with a dash of red in the toe box area which can be seen down below,
Jose Ramirez debuts the Nike HyperKO 2 in a stealthy colorway (07/27/2019) a year before its official launch for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Maurice Hooker wearing the ICONIC Nike HyperKO Limited Edition Boxing Shoes in White/Metallic Gold
Even though COVID-19 happened in 2020, APS still dropped the Nike HyperKO 2 in the following colors shown below,
A Box-Up Nation shipment of Nike HyperKO 2s in the Red and Blue colorways
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and APS has plans to discontinue the HyperKO 2 for its latest edition set to drop Summer 2026. In fact, the HyperKO 3 intends to be the lead shoe for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
It would not come as no surprise if Nike Reps chose RGBA again to trial the HyperKO 3 like they did the HyperKO 2 before its global release. Luis Coria can be seen wearing a potential Trial Pair of the the Nike HyperKO 3 in all white just like how APS did the Nike Machomai 3 (
Click Here to Purchase the Latest Machomai 3!) which subdues the details of the overall design.
Luis Coria is potentially wearing a Trial Pair of the Nike HyperKO 3 in all white to subdue the details of the overall design of the latest boxing boot from Nike / APS
Trial Pair of the Nike Machomai 3 cladded in white that were issued to specific Amatuer Boxing Programs and Professional Boxers around March 2024
The Trial Pair of the Nike HyperKO 3 looks like a hybrid between the HyperKO 1 and 2 while taking styling cues of the Jordan Boxing Shoe that was solely issued to Gennady Golovkin during his professional campaign.
GGG's Exclusive Issued Pair of Jordan Brand Boxing Shoes by Nike WHQ
A closer look of GGG's Jordan Boxing Shoe which was never release to the public
The HyperKO 2 will no longer go into production after May 2025 and all pairs in circulation will be final. Get them while supplies last!
Score $10 off your pre-order with us when leaving a detailed comment relating to the blog. The comment must be approved by me to be eligible for a $10 discount.***
The Nike HyperKO 2 Pre-Order must be placed before 05/07/2025 to qualify for $10 off. We will directly send you an exclusive discount code for the Pre-Order Purchase.***
The Final Phase of the Nike Machomai 2 and Nike HyperKO 2
Click Here to Purchase Nike Boxing Shoes
A Box-Up Nation Photo: Josh Hernandez
Photo Credit & Source / Instagram Links -- @rgba_pro & @chop_gonzalez1
Wearing a Trial Pair of the Nike HyperKO 3 Boxing Shoes
UPDATE 04/17/2025: This is confirmation that RGBA Pro (Riverside, California) is trialing the Nike HyperKO 3 before is global release. Albert 'Chop'mGonzalez can be seen wearing an all white pair with a subtle black accent of the Swoosh (Nike Check) located on the quarter panel of the boxing boot.
I hope the blog was an enjoyable read & best regards!
Sincerely, Josh Hernandez :)
Special shoutout to MANNY CASTILLEJOS for his observation and alley-oop. Thank you Brother for the lead!
The fruit of Nike’s partnership with fighters is shown in their constant innovation of the Hyper KOs. Looking forward to what the final product is going to look like!
Kinda dig the mix of the hyper KO 1&2s, it looks like they took the best of both and mixed it into one, fan of the strap and lace loops. I hope they make it as light as the ko 1s, the ko 2s always felt a bit more heavy. For just a potential proto of the 3s I’m liking what I’m seeing, would be cool if they brought back that shiny material from the ko 1s.
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