Cleto Reyes Castro was born April 26,1920 in Mexico City. Mexico City was undergoing reconstruction after 10 years of revolutionary struggle. Because of the hard times his family was facing, Cleto started working at the age of 12 in a factory that manufactured baseball gloves. In 1936, while still in elementary school, Cleto took part in an amateur fight at the "Peralvillo Cozumel" ring. His performance was so outstanding that Cleto was showered with coins from the crowd. His love for boxing was born; however, the pounding was so hard that he was convinced not to fight again. He chose instead to make the gloves he had used during the fight, and this started his career in the manufacturing of boxing gloves.

Over the years, Cleto continued to make boxing gloves, and perfect his craft. Subsequently, Reyes gloves obtained the approval of the local boxing commission (COMBOX DF), and in 1945 were used in a world championship fight for first time at La Condesa Arena. The fight was between Mexican Champion, Juan Zurita, and Ike Williams. That year was very important to Cleto Reyes. With the help of his wife and children, he started the Reyes Company.

In 1965, he had his first commercial representation in Los Angeles which began distributing his boxing equipment in the United States and some other countries. In 1970, during a time in which Don Cleto`s health was ailing, his son, Alberto Reyes joint his father´s efforts. With a firm entrepreneurial vision he decided to register the trademark Cleto Reyes in 1975 and founded Industrial Reyes S.A. de C.V. in 1979.

Currently, Cleto Reyes boxing equipment has a prominent place in the international market, and is recognized by all the major boxing sanctions around the world.