Boxing

Betting plays a significant role in the history of boxing. Some of the biggest fighters in the history of the sport have thrown fights in the name of gambling. While the sport's popularity may not be the same as it was during the days of Ali and even Tyson, the idea of betting on it still draws a lot of interest.

Comparing online sportsbooks and their boxing betting markets

Boxing is a sport that only a select few sportsbooks really invest their time and efforts into it. While most shops will offer lines on the top upcoming fights, the markets they offer may not be what a serious boxing bettor is looking for. Over time, we have found that a lot of European sportsbooks put more of an emphasis on offering strong betting markets, but that is not to say there aren't licensed U.S. books that would be ideal for a boxing bettor.

Right off the bat, the two shops that people looking to start betting on boxing should look into are BetMGM and Bet365. Bet365 is appealing for new boxing bettors since it consistently offers odds boosts on top fights. Outside of the promotions, the shop does provide quality lines and pricing for a range of fights that may not be available to bet on in sportsbooks.

BetMGM is another betting app that offers more fights than most sportsbooks. More importantly, it typically puts out fight lines earlier than other shops, which can help bettors find value.

What kind of boxing bets can you place?

In terms of betting markets and bet types, Boxing in one of the more straightforward sports that can be wagered on. First and foremost, the moneyline is most popular market for the sport, and it can found in two ways. The first is the three-way moneyline, which means a bettor can wager on either fighter or for the match to finish in a draw. The other moneyline market is a two-way market, so bettors can only wager on either fighter, and on the off chance the fight ends in a draw, then the bet will be void.

Aside from moneylines, the total is also a market that sees a lot of handle for bigger boxing bouts. The total in boxing revolves around the number of rounds a given fight will go. For example, for the Israil Madrimov vs. Terrance Crawford fight, the total is set at 10.5, so fans who think the fight will end early would bet the under at (-125).

Outside of the moneyline and total, the next market that sees the most play would likely be the winning method market. This allows bettors to bet on the exact outcome of a fight, for example, "Devin Haney by KO/TKO/DQ (+850)" or "Tyson Fury by Decision or Technical Decision (+110)."

Now, depending on the size of the fight, more betting markets will be available. There are always futures that can be placed or live betting markets, but we’ll touch on those later. For now, we’ll stick with pre-fight betting markets. One of the remaining markets is betting on whether or not a fight will go the distance and round props.

Much like the winning method markets, round props allow bettors to wager on which round a fighter will win the bout in. While some sportsbooks may just offer individual round props, other shops may offer "Round Group Betting," which would look something like “Anthony Joshua to win in rounds 4-6 (+2800)."

In-play boxing betting

No matter what the odds are heading into a fight, one punch can change everything. Since that is the case, live betting is a huge part of betting on boxing. When watching a fight, fans can see a boxer weakening, getting stronger, gaining momentum, or just holding out until they hear the bell.

With all of those things playing a factor, bettors need to act quickly if they think a fight is heading in a different direction. If a bettor can find good value on a live bet, it may help them hedge any bets they made prior to the fight or earlier in the match. Waiting around on a live bet, especially in boxing, is typically not the best idea since sportsbooks are constantly updating their live odds, and as I mentioned earlier, one punch can change everything.

When a bettor sees a boxer weakening, if they wait too long to bet against them, they could be knocked out by the time they decide to actually place a wager. Like with any sport, there is always a risk that momentum quickly flips sides, but keeping an eye on live odds is always something we recommend for boxing bettors.

Futures & long-term bets

When betting on different boxing events, like the Olympics, fans cannot only bet on each individual match but also place futures. This allows bettors to pick their outright winners for each weight class before and during the tournament.

Placing a futures bet during an event like the Olympics may help bettors hedge any bets they made prior to the event in the case of an upset or injury.

Betting on unconfirmed boxing bouts

One aspect of boxing that can get frustrating from a fan's perspective is the negotiations. Between promoters, sponsors, and boxers trying to get the most money possible, many potentially exciting fights end up falling through due to an inability to reach a deal. In the age of social media, fans can stay up to date on the negotiations for fights, and as a result, some sportsbooks will list odds for an unconfirmed fight that may be close to coming to fruition.

If the fight ends up happening, then a bettor who placed a wager before it was confirmed may end up getting the best price imaginable. Now, if that fight does end up falling through after a wager has been placed, then all legal sportsbooks will grade the bet as void.

Betting on celebrity boxing

Celebrity boxing has caused a massive divide in the boxing community. On the one hand, fans of the sport who appreciate the intricacies and the legends of boxing think celebrities taking it over is an abomination. On the other hand, celebrity boxing has brought more attention to a sport that has lost its fastball over the years, especially with the younger generations.

Throughout boxing history, celebrity boxing matches have popped up on occasion, featuring the likes of people like Jose Canseco, Ricky Gervais, Manute Bol, the Kardashians, and more. However, these celebrity matches did not get the publicity that they do now, thanks to the rise of social media. One year after the famous Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor boxing match in 2017, famous YouTube personality KSI put on a celebrity boxing match, with his fight being the headliner.

Well, after that received a lot of attention, KSI turned around a few months later and fought Logan Paul. Since then, the Paul brothers have taken celebrity boxing to the next level, partnering with media companies like DAZN to stream the fights. Since 2018, multiple iterations of celebrity boxing have come about, including Rough N’Rowdy and the Influencer Fight League. With the rise of celebrity boxing and increased interest from younger fans, sportsbooks have started offering odds on some of the bigger celebrity bouts, but the betting markets may not be as extensive as a fight between two professional boxers.

Useful Apps & Websites for Boxing Bettors

Boxing may not have the same following it once had, but there are still plenty of fans and bettors looking for information. Since we've already covered the best betting apps for boxing, we'll now examine the best resources and websites for the sport.

• Boxing News Online: Looking for the results of last night's fight or when the next time Canelo Alvarez steps into the ring? Well, Boxing News Online is the place to go. Since 1909, Boxing News has been covering boxing all around the world, and that has developed into a well-organized website that consistently churns out news articles so fans never miss a beat. Outside of news, fans can also find a full schedule of matches happening all over the world, as well as up-to-date rankings for each weight class in the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC.

• Boxing Scene: If you want to see what your favorite boxer has to say about his upcoming fight or the state of his weight class, Boxing Scene has you covered. Whether it's a video interview or a featured print story, Boxing Scene makes sure fans can always hear what the top fighters in the game have to say. Boxing fans can also find well-written news stories along with fight scorecards and rankings.

• Ring Magazine: This self-proclaimed " Bible of Boxing" can be found at your local bookstore or on its quality website. While the actual magazine may not have the ability to provide 24-7 updates on the sport, the website can and does. Boxing fanatics can find fight news or thorough and in-depth interviews with their favorite fighters. The Ring Magazine website also has individual pages for each fighter, which break down their record, news, and other information such as reach or stance.

• World Boxing Association: The WBA has existed since 1921. On its website, fans can find the latest rankings for each weight class, as well as up-to-date news and announcements about upcoming fights. Whether you're looking for the latest updates on a heavyweight bout or need to find the results of a match from over the years, the WBA site is exceptionally helpful.

Fade the Farewell Fight: Why retiring fighters rarely cover the moneyline

Promotion plays a massive role in boxing, and promoters will always try to extract every dollar from an accomplished fighter. As a result, boxing fans have seen plenty of retirement bouts featuring a storied fighter entering the ring for one final time. The story and promotion right themselves, but as for the fight itself, many times the retiring fighter does not have enough left in the tank to go out on top. 

Over the years, boxing fanatics and bettors have seen plenty of fighters announce their final fight, and many times, public bettors will back that fighter for either nostalgia or because of name recognition. As a result, moneylines can be skewed, causing a distinct edge for sharp bettors who know the up-and-coming fighter on the other side of the ring should not be an underdog or a short favorite. 

Like anything in sports and sports betting, nothing is guaranteed, so there are examples of boxers going out on top, like Rocky Marciano. However, for every Marciano, there are cases like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, and Jake LaMotta. Handicapping final fights should always revolve around recent form, condition, and style advantages instead of nostalgia and hope for Cinderella stories.