Boxing is a curiously unpredictable sport. I mean, a single knockout punch is all it takes to flip the odds 180 and turn an underdog into a champion. But here is the hook– you can actually turn the odds in your favor by knowing the nuances of the sport and mastering key betting strategies. This complete boxing betting guide will walk you through the entire process of boxing betting from how to sign up with a betting site (for beginners) to placing a strategic bet (pro tips for bettors) that maximizes your chances of winning. So, get ready to go bet-savvy.
How Does Boxing Betting Work?
Boxing betting is simpler than betting on more popular sports like cricket or football. This is because the range of core markets is smaller and the scope of betting is largely limited to the fight result– win, lose, or draw. That is, you pick the winner or loser– as simple as that.
The fighters are assigned a price by the book operator, indicated by a negative number and a positive number. The negative odds represent the fighter expected to win (the “favorite”) and the positive odds the fighter less likely to win (the “underdog”).
- +150 (underdog) means you bet $100 to win $150 in profit (a total of $250)
- -150 (favorite) means you bet $150 to win $100 in profit (total $250)
Choosing the favorite gives a smaller profit as they are more likely to win, whereas choosing the underdog, whose chance of winning is smaller, gives a higher profit. So you can choose to stake less for a lesser profit or stake higher for a higher return.
In the event of a draw, your bet is voided and you get your bet amount back.
You can also bet on a draw. Since this outcome is highly unlikely in tight matches, the stakes are significantly higher. Say the draw odds are set at +1600, you win $1600 in profit for every $100 you bet.
A Real-Life Example
Let’s look at a real-life scenario to see how it plays out in practice. Take the example of the recent high-profile boxing match in 2024 between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. The betting odds for this at the time looked like this:
- Anthony Joshua: -450 (favorite)
- Daniel Dubois: +333 (underdog)
As Dubois won this match, the payout unfolded as follows.
- Bet Amount: $100
- Odds: +333
- Profit: $333
- Total Payout: $100 (initial bet) + $333 (profit) = $430
If Joshua (favorite) had won the match, someone who bet $450 on Joshua, would have won $100 in profit, totaling 550.
Though this type of basic bet is the most common one in boxing, sportsbooks also offer other types of betting.
Types of Boxing Bets
Many sportsbooks have different types of boxing bet options to add variety to gambling and make for a more thrilling experience. Some are beginner-friendly requiring minimal strategy, while others require a deeper understanding of the skills and styles of fighters to analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
1. Moneyline Odds
The most basic bet. In a moneyline, you predict which fighter will win and the odds tell you how much you will win.
2. Round Betting
In round betting, you predict which round the boxing bout will end in, or which fighter will win a particular round.
3. Method of Victory
In Method of Victory, you predict how the fight will be won (Knockout (KO)/ Technical Knockout (TKO)/ Judge’s Decision: Unanimous (UD) or Split (SD).
4. Total Rounds
In total rounds bet, you predict whether the number of rounds will cross or fall below the number set by the sportsbook.
5. Knockdown Betting
In knockdown betting, You predict which fighter will score a knockdown in the bout.
6. Draw-No-Bet (DNB)
In a Draw-No-Bet, the draw option is essentially eliminated. So, if the match ends in a tie, it results in a “push”, your bet is voided, and your full stake is refunded. If your fighter wins, you receive your profit, but if they lose, you lose the entire wager.
7. Going the Distance Bet
In Going the Distance, you predict whether the bout will last the full schedule of rounds or if will end early.
8. Prop Bet (Proposition Bets)
You predict specific events within the game, like the total punches, a knockdown for a specific fighter, etc.
9. Live Boxing Betting (In-Play Betting)
You watch the game unfolding and adjust your bets in play as the game progresses.
10. Boxing Parlays
In parlays, multiple bets are combined into a single bet and you win only if you predict all the individual bets correctly.
The Know-Hows of Boxing Betting– Best Betting Strategies
Here are some expert tips to make a wise and rational bet to increase your chances of winning in gambling on boxing.
- Beginners are advised to stick to moneyline bets, which is the easiest and most basic of boxing bets, where you pick the winner and sit back until the match winds up.
- Start small with low bet amounts and gradually increase the stakes as you gain more confidence and knowledge.
- Research the fighters’ history, form and styles for all betting, especially for bet types like Knockdown betting and Method of Victory betting.
- Other factors worth considering are injuries, boxing styles, venue (players tend to perform better in their hometown), biases of judges based on country or promotions, match progress, etc.
- Mix different types of bets without sticking to one type to spread your risk and maximize returns.
- Method of Victory is one of the most lucrative betting types in boxing if you accurately predict a KO when the odds favor a decision.
- Round betting and Going the Distance betting are high-risk, high-reward bets, as it is hard to pinpoint the exact round or whether it will go the distance. However, this is a bet worth tying for high-stake bettors in matches where one of the fighters has a clear history of finishing fights early.
- To reduce the risk of draw-ruining bets in close match-ups, go for draw-no-bets.
- Over/Under rounds are also low-risk bets as you only predict whether the fight will extend or finish early based on a fighter’s stamina and knockout power.
- Choose a licensed sportsbook with a long history and a solid reputation.
- If you are into live betting, check beforehand if the operator provides this option because live betting markets are still few in number.
- Avoid emotional betting and placing your bet on your favorite boxer.
How to place a boxing bet
Now that you have gained an understanding of the nitty gritty of boxing betting, here is how you go about placing an online bet.
- Head to your favorite sports betting site that offers boxing.
- Sign up by providing your details
- Some bookies may require you to verify your identity before you make a deposit.
- Navigate to the boxing betting section.
- Choose the event you want to bet on.
- Select the bet type you prefer.
- Review the odds.
- Enter your wager amount and hit bet.
Conclusion
Boxing is a sport growing in popularity among punters. But, fun fact: boxing betting has been around since the earliest days of boxing in the 1700s. It’s a developing and highly lucrative market today, so you will find both casual matches and high-profile matches available on gambling spaces, which are packed with action. With the right strategy and some luck, you may strike it rich with a potential massive payout. But this doesn’t excuse you from gambling responsibly as it’s always possible that you will lose.
Don’t go all in, hedge your bets wisely, and avoid chasing losses, no matter what sport you are betting on or how confident you are about your betting skills. If you think you have a gambling problem, self-exclude and seek help immediately.
Read More: F1 Betting Tips: How to Bet on Formula 1
