Prizefighting has been at the forefront of combat sports for decades, and it has also been one of the most popular sports to wager on. With new fans constantly finding their way to the ring for Fight Night, it has become a prominent search to seek out how to bet on Boxing.
Fight fans of all types can find everything they need to know about betting on boxing on this page. So, before stepping into the ring to place wagers, let’s go through a complete breakdown, including how to read fight odds, popular bet types, and important factors and information for Boxing bettors to take into account.
How to bet on boxing: Breaking down fight odds and bet types
There are many reasons why Boxing is such a popular sport to bet on. The back-and-forth nature of boxing makes it one of the most exciting sports to watch, and having a stake in the action only turns up the intensity for fans. It’s also a year-round sport, there is no offseason for boxing. Fighters schedule a single bout at a time, but with so many weight classes and various promotions, the action is nonstop.
Boxing fans have several methods available to wager on fights thanks to a variety of popular bet types. Picking a straight-up winner is always available using moneylines. Boxing fans can also bet on the duration of the fight with the over-under round total. Additionally, users can take up boxing prop bets to wager on niche markets and outcomes within a boxing event.
Boxing Moneyline Odds
The easiest way to bet on any boxing fight is by playing the moneyline. Betting a boxing moneyline is just picking an outright winner of the fight, and each fighter will have assigned odds. For the favored fighter, the odds will be marked with a (-). The underdog fighter will have a (+) marking their moneyline odds.
Moneyline odds represent the fighter’s probability of winning the bout, and the moneyline odds directly calculate the potential payout of a winning bet.
To give an example, Terence Crawford was a (-150) moneyline favorite in his 2023 bout vs. Errol Spence, who was a (+125) underdog. If you had placed a $150 bet on the Terence Crawford moneyline (-150), that would’ve brought back a $100 profit when Crawford scored the TKO victory in the ninth round. To show how underdog odds work, a $100 bet on Errol Spence at (+125) moneyline odds would’ve paid out a $125 profit if Spence had been able to pull off the upset.
Boxing Over-Under Round Betting
Boxing fans can also wager on the duration of the fight by playing a side of the over-under round total. This bet type does not take into account who wins the fight, just how many rounds it lasts.
Oddsmakers set the over-under total at whatever amount of rounds they believe the fight will last, and bettors place wagers on the actual fight duration to go over or under that number.
It’s very common to see the over-under total number end in (.5). This is intentional as it increases the likelihood of a decisive over or under outcome.
Boxing Prop Betting
The options to bet on boxing only diversify when gamblers dive into props. Boxing props give users the ability to wager on niche markets and take an alternative approach to betting on a fight.
Boxing prop betting features many options, and the following are some of the more popular selections:
- Method of victory: Place a bet on how a fight will be won (KO, TKO, Judges Decision). This prop bet type will also require users to pick a winner of the bout.
- Fight to go the distance: Place a bet on whether or not a fight will last for the full scheduled duration. Users are not required to pick a winner if they bet on a fight to finish within the scheduled rounds.
- Round props: Place a bet on the exact round a fight will finish. This bet type does not require users to select a winning fighter.
- Knockdowns: Place a bet on whether a fighter will score a Knockdown(s) during a bout.
Boxing Parlays
Boxing fans can combine multiple eligible wagers together onto one ticket for multiplied odds, known as a boxing parlay. This bet type is very popular, and can be very lucrative, but also carries a higher risk of the bet losing.
One of the most enjoyable ways to make a boxing parlay is to combine multiple betting lines throughout a fight card. This can create an additional rooting interest within the fight card as fans track their bets from one bout to the next.
A parlay requires users to stack together at least two bets (legs) onto the same ticket, but they can certainly combine much more than just two. With each leg added to the ticket, the potential payout will increase, but so too will the chance for the wager to lose. That’s because in order to win a parlay, each individual leg on the ticket must win.
If any of the legs in a boxing parlay loses, the entire ticket is marked as a loss. If any of the individual legs end in a tie, they are marked as a push and voided from the ticket.
Boxing Live Betting
Oftentimes, when watching boxing, a graphic will flash on the screen showing ‘Live Fight Odds’ of the bout taking place. These are live moneyline odds that allow users to place wagers on the fight even after it has already begun.
The live betting odds are updated from moment to moment to reflect the status of the ongoing fight, and they can provide boxing bettors with massively shifted odds.
Don’t ever worry if you miss the start of a boxing match, or even miss multiple rounds. With live betting, users can get in on the action and wager at virtually any point during the bout.
Where to bet on boxing: Available sportsbook states
Sports betting continues to expand throughout the country, with now more than half the states nationwide offering access to legal sportsbooks. Boxing is a year-round sport, and that means bettors in legal sportsbook states will constantly have fight action to wager on.
Currently, users in the following states can bet on boxing with online sportsbook apps:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington DC
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Coverage will only continue to increase as legal sports betting is launched in more and more states throughout the country.
Key information for betting on boxing
Boxing is one of the most unpredictable sports to wager on, as the fight can end at any moment. For users interested in betting on boxing, the following are important factors to take into consideration:
- Win/loss record: In boxing, a fighter’s record is everything. This is the full fight history for a professional prizefighter, and top fighters who still have a 0 in the loss column are highly respected. “Someone’s O has got to go!” is a classic Michael Buffer (ring announcer) phrase during pre-fight introductions of two undefeated fighters set to square off.
- Experience: Experience is a key component of pro boxing. Oftentimes, fighters have completed thirty, forty, even fifty professional bouts before they reach the pinnacle of their career.
- Fight style: There’s a saying that ‘styles make fights’ and that’s definitely the case when betting on boxing. The strengths and weaknesses of a fighter can be highlighted and exposed depending on the opponent, and should be carefully examined when wagering on a bout.
- Training camp: There are many ways for fighters to prepare for a bout, and that training camp is something that should be monitored by potential bettors as best they can. If a fighter is training with new coaches/sparring partners, has changed gyms/locations, and other important variables can seriously impact performance on fight night.
- Pre-fight news/media: Bettors should keep up with fighters’ media engagements ahead of a bout, as pre-fight media and interviews can reveal important developments and storylines that were not previously known by the betting public.
- Injuries: Although professional boxers are required to pass pre-fight medicals to be cleared to fight by the state athletic commission, injuries are a reality of sports. If a boxer is carrying an injury going into a fight, it can have a potentially major impact on their performance.
- Travel: Depending on where the boxing event takes place, some fighters may need to travel further ahead of fight week. For example, if a fight is being held at a venue in Denver, Colorado (at high altitude). A fighter who trains at sea level in Los Angeles might arrive for fight week and be more impacted by the elevation change than a local fighter who trains there in Denver.
How to bet on boxing FAQ
Check out some of the frequently asked questions relating to the topic of how to bet on boxing.
Can I bet on boxing?
Yes, boxing has a long history in sports betting, and remains a popular sport to wager on: Eligible users in legal sports betting states can enjoy a variety of bet types to take action on boxing fights.
Where can I bet on boxing?
Sports betting is currently live and launched in AZ, CT, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, and WY: This list will continue to grow as there are several states with sports betting legislation currently in circulation.
What is the minimum age to bet on boxing?
In most states, the minimum sports betting age is 21 years old, however, some states permit users 18 and older to bet on sports like boxing: Check your state’s betting laws before getting started with wagering on boxing.
What are the best bet types for gambling on boxing?
Some of the most popular bet types for wagering on boxing matches include moneylines, over-under round totals, fight props, boxing parlays, and live betting: By its nature, boxing is a very unpredictable and chaotic sport, and provides some of the most exciting ways to bet on the action.
Are there promos and bonuses for betting on boxing?
Yes, most major sportsbook platforms like DraftKings, bet365, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, and others will provide new and existing users with sportsbook promos, bonuses, and other offers for betting on boxing: Check the promos section of your sportsbook app whenever a fight card is upcoming to see the available sportsbook bonuses for wagering on the action.
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