Looking to learn how to bet on boxing?
Boxing is one of the most thrilling sports to watch and bet on. There are fights all-year round and waiting for your fighter to land the killer blow you’re looking for is insanely exciting.
Because there are different ways to bet on boxing – and therefore different ways to win money – it’s important you know what to look out for so that you land a KO at the bookies.
In this guide to betting on boxing, our team of boxing experts will walk you through all you need to know. We’ll take a look at the types of bets you can place, how to implement a boxing betting strategy, and we’ll also share a few outstanding tips and tricks that have personally served us well over the years.
To get you started, you can sign-up to number one boxing site BetOnline and claim a $1,000 welcome bonus straight off the bat.
How to Bet on Boxing
The best way to bet on boxing is to join a reputable boxing betting site that offers a variety of markets, great boxing betting odds and lots of bonuses.
BetOnline is one such boxing betting site that was launched over 25 years, and which comes complete with an unlimited 25% reload bonus.
Here’s how to join BetOnline in a few easy steps:
Click “JOIN”
Use the bright green “JOIN” button at the top right of the homepage.
Complete the Form
You’ll be taken to a single-page form, which requires you to complete a few fields such as your full name, email address and mobile number. This shouldn’t take any longer than a minute. Then, just click the “Create Account” button at the end of the form.
Make a First Deposit
BetOnline will then launch your account, after which you can head over to the “Cashier” section to make your first deposit and claim the welcome bonus.
Best Boxing Betting Sites
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- BetOnline: Best Overall for Boxing Odds
- Bovada: Best Boxing Site for Prop Bets
- BUSR: Best for Moneyline Bets
- MyBookie: Best for Futures Bets
- EveryGame: Best Welcome Bonus at a Boxing Site
Runners-up
Types of Boxing Bets You Can Place
Boxing is like any other sport in that there are multiple ways you can place a bet. You could simply back a fighter to win outright or you could be a bit more creative and find value-driven odds.
Here are the key bet types and terms you need to keep an eye out for:
Outright Winner (Boxing Moneyline Betting)
Because all boxing match-ups are fought between two fighters, you have a straight choice between the favorite and the underdog.
In most boxing matches, there’ll be an odds-on favorite and an odds-against underdog. The odds-on favorite is always represented by a minus sign (such as -150), while the odds-against underdog is represented by a plus sign (such as +200).
Betting on the outright winner doesn’t always represent huge value in terms of the boxing odds but it’s the safe bet if you’re absolutely convinced the favorite will win – but you’re also not sure how they’ll win.
Round Betting
Round betting is a notoriously tricky type of boxing bet to place and most boxing bettors dip into this market simply for a bit of fun.
With round betting, you’re predicting which round you think the flight will stop, as well as who you think will emerge victorious.
For example, you might bet on Tyson Fury Round 4 at boxing betting odds of (+3300). This means if you wager $10 on this bet, your potential returns would be $330.
Round betting always offers huge odds because it’s so difficult to get right (after all, there are 12 rounds and the fight could theoretically end in any round). If you place this bet and win, it’s almost always due to a stroke of luck.
That all said, some online betting sites let you bet on when the fight will be won instead – such as rounds 1-3, rounds 4-6 and so on. The boxing odds are still fairly long but winning this type of bet is a bit easier than betting on a specific round.
Method of Victory
In boxing, there are 5 different ways a boxer can win a fight:
- KO
- TKO
- Disqualification
- Decision
- Technical Decision
All the best online sports betting sites let you bet on which fighter you think will win, as well as how you think they’ll win.
Normally, KO’s, TKO’s and disqualifications are grouped together (such as Ryan Garcia to win by KO, TKO or disqualification at boxing odds (-250).
Just like with betting on the outright winner, the odds-on favorite will still always be odds-on favorite to win by KO, TKO or disqualification but you will find better odds when betting on the favorite to win by decision or technical decision.
Another thing to note is that some bookmakers won’t group KOs and TKOs together. This is something to look out for because you don’t want to get caught cold if your man wins by TKO when you thought you’d bet on him to win by KO or TKO – but actually hadn’t.
You can also bet on a fight to be a draw or technical draw. The boxing odds for this bet are almost always around (+2000).
Totals Betting
Think you know how many rounds there’ll be in a fight?
While there’s no points betting in boxing, you can dip into the totals (over/under) market. This is when you bet on the total rounds – for example, you might bet on over 6.5 rounds or under 6.5 rounds.
This type of boxing bet requires some sound judgment in order to be profitable over the long term. But if you anticipate a fight being over pretty quickly (or lasting a long time), it can be worth trying.
Final Judgment
Let’s say a fight goes the distance and it comes down to who the judges think is the winner. There are then three choices:
- Unanimous decision
- Split decision
- Majority decision
Before a boxing match starts, you can bet on which fighter you think will win by either unanimous decision, split decision or – you guessed it – majority decision.
Naturally, a lot of things need to fall into place for this bet to win, which is why the odds are often long. Even the odds-on favorite to win by unanimous decision will be priced at boxing odds of around (+550).
But if you’re convinced a fight will last 12 rounds, this is a bet worth trying.
Prop Bets
Many top-rated sports betting sites like Bovada let you choose from an array of boxing prop bets.
What are boxing props?
A boxing prop refers to a specific outcome in a boxing match. For example, a common boxing prop is to bet on a fight to go the distance (or not to go the distance) and you could also bet on which fighter you think will get dropped first.
Other prop bets include whether you think there’ll be a point deduction or not, whether there’ll be a knockdown during the fight and whether or not a fighter will get knocked out.
Prop bets aren’t super easy to get right – but they can be a fantastic way to boost your bankroll if you understand the sport and are familiar with both fighters. For instance, if you anticipate a slug-fest that will go the whole 12 rounds, betting on the fight to go the distance could be a smart idea.
History of Boxing Betting – And What You Can Learn From It
If history exists for any reason, it exists to teach us lessons and show us how to do things (and how not to do things). This is especially true of boxing betting.
Indeed, boxing is a bit unique among all sports in that even the best fighters in the world only fight a handful of times each year. This makes predicting when a massively overpriced underdog will beat a hugely-favored even tougher because you’ve only got a few chances.
What’s more, many of the top fighters rarely lose. Even today, Floyd Mayweather remains undefeated, which means that had you bet on him to win every single one of his matches over the years, you’d be well in profit.
On the flip side, Mayweather is always the odds-on favorite, which means betting on him to be the outright winner is a daunting prospect. You might decide to lump $500 on him at (-220) odds … but what if this is the one match he loses?
History of Upsets
History shows us that upsets happen in boxing matches. They happen rarely but they do happen – and what’s key is that you’re able to sniff out an upset just before it happens.
Take, for example, the 1990 fight between Mike Tyson and James Douglas. At the time, Iron Mike was the undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the world, whereas Douglas entered the ring as a (-4200) shot. Yet despite Douglas being the absolute outsider (he was also battling the flu at the time), he ended Tyson in the tenth round.
Fast-forward to 2001 when British Heavyweight Champion of the World Lennox Lewis squared up against Hasim Rahman. No one anticipated anything other than a Lewis victory – probably by KO.
What happened? The exact opposite. Rahman – the huge underdog – knocked Lennox Lewis out in the fifth round.
What History Can Teach You For Betting Purposes
Key to winning this bet would have been watching Lewis before the fight. How was he behaving, how was he talking? What was he saying? He later stated that he hadn’t taken the fight seriously, which means that if you had watched his body language and paid attention, you might have had an idea that he was going to get caught with his trousers down.
While picking out an upset isn’t always so easy, it is worth the gamble thanks to the extremely long odds. On the other hand, boxing is one of the few sports where online sports betting sites will let you place large bets on the outright winner.
Over the years, huge sums of money have been wagered on odds-on favorites. When Floyd Mayweather Jr fought against Manny Pacquiao in the Fight of the Century, Mayweather was – for once – available at attractive odds. One risk-taking bettor, staked over $200,000 on Mayweather to win, and while the fight went the distance, the judges backed Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Why Is BetOnline the Best Sportsbook For Betting on Boxing?
We reviewed a range of competing sites when creating this guide but BetOnline came out on top:
Competitive boxing odds: BetOnline sets their own lines and consistently posts industry-best odds on the moneyline and other bets like round betting. What’s more, they post their lines early, therefore giving you plenty of time to assess your options.
Great tools and features: BetOnline lets you indulge in same game parlay betting and it comes with other useful features such as odds boosters.
Unlimited reload bonuses: Anytime you make a $55+ deposit, you’ll be eligible for a 25% reload bonus. If you deposit crypto, this is turned into a 30% reload bonus that functions as the best way to boost your betting funds.
Reliable payouts: Not only does BetOnline support safe and secure payment methods like Bitcoin and VISA, they also offer reliable payouts and fast withdrawals.
Why Place Boxing Bets Online?
You can bet on boxing online or at a land-based sportsbook. We think online betting holds all the aces and here are a few key advantages:
It’s convenient: When you bet on boxing online, you can bet on a fight whenever you want, wherever you are. This is especially true if you’ve signed up to a mobile betting app because all you need is your mobile device.
It’s safer than ever: Online sports betting in general has never been this safe before, with more and more fully-licensed online sportsbooks emerging across the country. What’s more, when a boxing betting site is fully-licensed, it will typically come complete with extra safety features, such as SSL-encryption.
You can compare boxing odds: There are specialist websites that make it their business to list the best boxing odds that are available at different online sportsbooks. This makes it easy for you to compare their odds for different fights, therefore allowing you to always place your bets at the best price possible.
Check out some of our predictions of previous fights:
Best Bonuses to Claim at Boxing Sites
BetOnline – 50% Up To $1,000 Sign-Up Bonus
Using the promo code “BOL1000” you just need to make a $55+ first deposit in order to claim BetOnline’s matched deposit offer that’s worth up to $1,000.
Bovada – 75% Up To $750 Welcome Offer
Our Bovada review shows that it is currently offering new players a 75% welcome bonus up to $750. This is a matched deposit offer. And while it doesn’t require a promo code, it does come with a $20 minimum first deposit.
BUSR – $1,500 Welcome Bonus
The BUSR welcome offer is a 100% up to $1,500 matched deposit bonus. The minimum deposit for this one is $100 and you need to enter the code “SPORTS100FP” when prompted.
MyBookie – 50% Up To $1,000 Sign-Up Bonus
When you make a first deposit of at least $50 and enter the bonus code “MYB50,” you can claim MyBookie’s welcome offer that will match your first deposit by 50%.
EveryGame – $750 Welcome Offer
EveryGame’s welcome bonus covers your first three deposits. Each one is worth as much as $250 and you need to enter the code “3XBOOST250” when asked.
Mistakes To Avoid When Betting On Boxing
Most boxing bettors don’t make consistent profits with betting – and this is generally because they fall into the most common pitfalls that you should try to avoid.
Joining The Wrong Sportsbook
The key to placing a good boxing bet is gambling at a sportsbook that’s just right for you. Some of the best boxing betting sites include BetOnline and Bovada but it’s really important that you shop around and join sportsbooks that have you what you want in terms of the markets available, the boxing odds and even the bet limits.
Being Unrealistic
Making money off boxing fights is what we all dream of – but boxing betting won’t work if you have unrealistic expectations.
Don’t dream that you’ll be able to make a living off boxing betting but instead stay grounded and see where things take you.
Not Staying in Control
Boxing betting is no different to any form of gambling in that a loss of control will equal a bad losing streak.
If you bet on a boxing event and lose, stay patient and wait for the next opportunity.
Betting With Zero Knowledge Of The Fighters
If your boxing knowledge is limited to the top fighters like Tyson Fury, the trick is to either learn more about other fighters or to avoid boxing matches where you haven’t got a clue who the fighters are.
Put it this way: If you bet on boxing matches fought between two fighters who are unknown to you, you will likely lose.
Other similar articles:
How to Bet on Boxing: FAQs
How Do I Find the Best Boxing Betting Odds?
To find the best boxing odds, you can use odds comparison websites, as well as join different betting sites. By signing up to different betting sites, you can compare their odds for each market on every single boxing match all-year round.
Is Betting on Boxing Safe?
Betting on boxing online is completely safe when you join licensed, established betting sites like BetOnline.
Before you sign up to a betting site, check the licensing situation first and look out for extra security measures like two-factor authentication. You can also read existing customer reviews to gauge how safe a sportsbook is.
Can I Make Money Placing Boxing Bets?
Whilst most bettors don’t make a long-term profit when wagering on boxing, it’s possible to make a success of it if you come up with a boxing betting strategy that you stick to, and which works for you.
That all said, it’s totally possible to win money when placing boxing bets – but the likely scenario is that you will lose a few bets, too.
Best Boxing Betting Tips
Before you start betting on boxing matches, it’s a smart idea to have a strategy in place. This will help you stay in control and can yield long-term profits.
In this section, our betting experts share their top boxing betting strategies.
Always Find the Best Price
Whether you’re placing boxing prop bets or boxing moneyline bets, it’s essential that the core of your betting strategy begins with finding the best betting odds. This way, you will increase your potential payout over the long-term.
You can use odds comparison websites to compare the betting odds on offer at different sportsbooks.
Sign-Up To Different Sites
Following on from the above point, different sportsbooks set different boxing betting odds.
What’s more, they offer different markets and different features. This is why it’s wise to join a handful of the top-rated betting sites so that you can shop around and get comfortable at the sportsbooks that feel right to you.
Whether you are looking for the Wrestlemania betting odds or want to wager on other championships, it’s always a good idea to compare odds at different bookies.
Grab the Bonuses
All the best sportsbooks like BetOnline and MyBookie offer regular bonuses and promos. These include matched deposit sign-up bonuses, reload bonuses and cashback bonuses.
By claiming the bonuses as and when they’re offered, you can extend your bankroll and reduce risk when placing bets.
Get Familiar With the Divisions
While each fighter only gets into the ring a few times a year, there are enough organizations in boxing, as well as enough divisions – such as lightweight and heavyweight – that there are still plenty of fights to bet on.
Once you understand the different divisions and fighters, you’ll find it easier to assess which fights to specialize in and which to avoid.
Read the Narrative
Any boxing match comes with a narrative, whether it be the third and final Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury match-up or an upcoming loudmouth who thinks he’s got a shot at taking a belt off a champion.
Before you bet on a boxing match, then, make sure to check the narrative. What’s at stake for both fighters? Who’s got more to lose? Who’s more vested in the fight?
Avoid Moneyline Odds
We largely think that placing a moneyline wager in boxing betting is a waste of time. This is because the favorite is almost always odds-on, which means you will need to place a large stake in order to yield a decent return.
Instead, it’s a better idea to grow your boxing knowledge so that you can start trying your luck with things like betting on the exact round when a fight will end or betting on the total rounds (such as over 6.5 rounds) … or even betting on the method of victory, such as Anthony Joshua next fight to end with a KO.
How to Bet on Boxing: Final Thoughts
Whether you place moneyline bets or try your luck with round betting or even parlay betting, boxing betting can be great fun. Just make sure to sign-up to enough betting sites so that you can compare their boxing odds and increase your potential payout.
You can get started today at top boxing sportsbook BetOnline with a 50% up to $1,000 welcome bonus before grabbing an unlimited 25% reload bonus.
Whatever you decide to do, please stay in control, set a bankroll and always gamble responsibly.
Related: How to Bet on UFC
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