Boxing Betting at Bally Bet Sportsbook

If you've ever attended a boxing event, you'll understand why it's considered one of the biggest combat sports in the world. Egypt has the earliest known record for boxing, but modern day boxing has gone from strength to strength, with games now taking place all across the globe, including the U.S., U.K., and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking of Saudi Arabia, the country has recently become a bit of a boxing hub, hosting a variety of top bouts. For instance, Saudi Arabia hosted the heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022. The country has also hosted various other top bouts, including those involving UFC superstar Francis Ngannou.

Following the introduction of sports betting in several states across the U.S. and the emergence of numerous bookmakers, bettors have become involved as well. That's why you'll find odds to bet on a range of boxing events here at Bally Bet. Read on to learn more about how to place bets on boxing, and see what some of the most popular betting markets are for the sport.

Popular Boxing Bets

Moneyline

No matter which boxing weight class you choose to bet on, you'll always find the moneyline market. It's very straightforward. It just means predicting who wins the match. You can also predict whether it will end in a tie — this usually happens when all three judges at ringside agree on a unanimous tie. A boxing match can also end in a tie when two judges declare different boxers winners while the third declares a tie.

As an example, let's look at a hypothetical WBA Heavyweight World Title fight between boxers A and B. For moneyline odds on these boxers, you'll find odds accompanied by minus and plus symbols. So if boxer A has odds of -250 and B has +185, it indicates that A is the contest's favorite and B is the underdog. You must place a $250 bet to win $100 if you’re backing boxer A. On the other hand, you’ll win $185 by backing boxer B with a $100 bet if they win the contest.

Total Rounds

Total rounds is another popular boxing bet. For this one, you have to predict the total number of rounds of a bout, and whether you think it will be more or less than a certain number. A professional boxing bout is usually set at a minimum of 12 rounds, which is why you'll find total rounds markets like over/under 10.5, over/under 7.5, and so on.

So, if you were to place an over 7.5 bet on a match, the fight ends in rounds 8, 9, 10, or 11, you'd win.

To Go the Distance

For this bet, you have to choose either a Yes or No option. This bet type requires you to predict whether a fight finishes early or the boxers will last the maximum number of rounds set for the fight.

For instance, you'll win if you back a bet to go the distance, with the judges being the deciding factor. If you choose the No option, you're backing the game to end in a knockout or by any other stoppage that ends the game early.

Method of Victory

The Method of Victory bet involves predicting how a boxer will win a bout. You can choose whether a fighter will win by knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), or if their opponent gets disqualified. Other methods of victory can be a tie or the judges' decision.

So, if you back the two fighters in a boxing match to win by decision, and the outcome is ultimately decided by the judges, you win.

Knockdowns

Knockdowns happen when a boxer falls to the ground after taking hits from their opponent. With this bet, you predict which of the two fighters will suffer a knockdown during the bout. It's also possible to bet on variations of this bet, like the total number of knockdowns in the bout and whether both fighters will get knocked down, and so on.

Knockdown betting doesn't concern itself with who wins the match, so even if the boxer you back to score a knockdown (and they do) loses the match, your bet will still win.

Round Betting

Round betting is straightforward, and the odds are usually very high. It involves predicting what round a boxer will win.

For instance, if you back a boxer to win a fight at round five and they do, your round bet will land. Your bet will end in a loss if the boxer you bet on wins the fight at any round other than round five.

Boxing Betting Advice & Tips

Every bettor places a wager with the purpose of winning. But sports are typically unpredictable, and bettors must apply the right strategies to get the best returns on their boxing bets.

Familiarize yourself with the sport

One of the most essential things you can do as a boxing bettor is understand how the sport works. Know the scoring systems, boxing styles, and every aspect of the sport. Once you fully understand the sport, you'll become confident with your predictions.

Assess the boxer's form

A vital tip to succeed in boxing betting is to assess the fighter's form before a fight. Look out for details such as results against past notable opponents, whether the fighters have maintained a constant level, whether they've been out for a while, and so on. Knowing what kind of bet to place becomes easier when you have all this information, so try to utilize all these details in your predictions.

Set aside a bankroll

Financial discipline is important for every bettor. One way to achieve this is to have a financial plan for your boxing bets. For instance, you can set aside a bankroll to ensure you only wager what you can afford to lose. It's also extremely important not to chase your losses, as this could lead to losing more than you planned when your predictions don't go your way.

Know the boxer's fighting style

Another tip is to recognize a fighter's style.

Boxers can typically be categorized like so: the boxer-puncher, slugger, swarmer, and outboxer. Sluggers rely on powerful punches to defeat their opponents, while outboxers use defense and distance to score points. Boxer punchers are well-rounded fighters who are aggressive and capable of throwing counterpunches, while swarmers are extremely defensive and apply constant pressure on their opponents.

Once you recognize a fighter's style, it should be easier to predict how they'll perform in the ring.

Follow boxing news and trends

This is one area that you should pay attention to. There will always be news and rumors from boxing websites in the run-up to the fight. Keeping up with all of these developments will help you make informed bets. For instance, injury news about a fighter may surface before a fight.

Avoid betting on your favorite boxers

It's not out of place to have a favorite boxer. But some bettors blindly place bets on certain fighters solely based on their admiration for them. This isn't recommended, as it can cloud your judgment. Instead, look to statistics and similar research to help inform your predictions.

Professional vs. Amateur Boxing

Have you ever wondered why the type of boxing bouts in the Olympic Games differ from WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC bouts? It's because boxing operates at two different levels: amateur and professional.

Amateur boxing, practiced in colleges, Olympic games, and Commonwealth Games, is usually the platform to launch participants to the professional level. The great Muhammad Ali won the light heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, competing as an amateur under the name Cassius Clay.

And while amateur boxing and professional boxing are both extremely popular, they differ in how they play out.

In amateur boxing, the focus is usually on scoring points and winning rounds compared to the professionals who focus on knocking out their opponents.

The number of rounds, scoring systems, and headgear are also areas where amateur and professional boxing differ. In the latter, boxers fight without wearing protective headgear, and the fight usually lasts up to 12 rounds. Also, professional bouts employ a 10-point scoring system.

Amateur boxing, on the other hand, allows fighters to compete with protective gear, and bouts last up to three rounds. As for the scoring system, winners are usually picked based on the number of punches landed.

Amateur boxers focus more on accuracy and technique, while professional boxers tend to be more aggressive, focusing more on power punches.

No matter which one you prefer, understanding both is key for your boxing bets.

On the whole, boxing markets aren't usually as extensive as they are in other sports, but you'll typically find more options for professional boxing than you will for amateur boxing.