How to Bet on Boxing - Boxing Betting Guide for Beginners

A knowledge of the basic rules of boxing is imperative to creating sensible, informed bets on upcoming fights. 

Without a base understanding, bettors are more likely to lose money when placing wagers. By learning the rules of the sport, types of boxing bets and effective strategies – you can transform your knowledge of how to bet on boxing.

Find out everything you need to know about how to bet on a boxing fight in our guide to betting on boxing. 

How Does Boxing Betting Work?

Boxing betting follows much of the same pattern as every other sport. Bettors place wagers on the outcome of an event with additional betting options throughout the bout. Of course, it’s handy to know how odds work before you start placing your bets. 

Bout betting, meaning simply betting on the fight, is hugely popular – especially for the biggest fights. The most common bet is the outright winner. This is where bettors place a wager on the fighter that they believe will win the bout. But there are plenty of other betting markets available. 

For example, betting on a big fight (e.g. Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2), bettors may choose Fury as the overall winner, which has odds of around 2/1. However, additional betting options may include the method of victory (knockout, technical knockout, decision), the number of rounds the fight will last, and more. 

The larger odds come with these additional markets. Correctly predicting the number of rounds, for example, will payout much better than a simple win market. Understanding both the rules of boxing and the fighters is a key component of learning how to bet on boxing online. 

Types of Boxing Bets

Boxing is one of the most popular sports for betting and, as a result, boxing betting sites offer a wide range of betting markets to satisfy the demand. From simple win markets to round betting and the method of victory – we’ve listed some of the most popular types of boxing bet below:

Round Betting

Round betting is one of the most common markets in boxing. But what is round betting in boxing?

Round betting simply involves bettors predicting the winner and the round in which they think the fight will end. For example, Fury To Win the Fight in Round 3, offered at 55/1. The full round betting table can be seen below: 

Grouped Round Betting

Grouped round betting offers another answer to the question – “How to bet on boxing rounds?”. 

For example, Fury To Win the Fight in Round 1-3 is offered at 25/1. The full grouped round betting table can be seen below: 

Method of Victory

The method of victory allows bettors to predict how the fight will finish / how the winner will win. 

For example, a bettor may place a wager for Usyk to win by KO/TKO, offered at 16/5. A full breakdown of the Method of Victory betting market can be found in the table below: 

Head to Head 

Head-to-head betting is as simple as it gets in boxing betting. Bettors simply choose the fighter that they think will win and place a wager to match. The small number of outcomes can be found in the table below:

Will the Fight Go the Distance

A simple, but incredibly popular betting market in boxing is on whether the fight will go the distance.

Bettors are simply required to choose whether or not they believe the fight will finish after the full number of rounds, or if it will be stopped early (KO/TKO, etc.). The options are displayed in the table below:

Effective Betting Tips & Strategies

Using a smart boxing strategy is the most effective way to secure a profit. Here are some of our recommended tips to place the smart money when wagering on boxing.

1. Conduct Thorough Background Research

Background research should form the basis of any serious sports bet. The more information you have on hand, the more accurate your prediction can be. 

With boxing as an example, consider the history and the track record of each of the two fighters. Study the past fights of both fighters, search for patterns and look for dominant performances or unexpected losses. Each piece of data helps to paint a clearer picture of each fighter.   

2. Assess Current Form

The current form of both boxers is a vital factor to consider. Training camp results, injuries and – where applicable – recent fights are all crucial for winning predictions. 

For example, in Oleksandr Usyk’s first fight against Anthony Joshua, many considered Usyk’s recent dominant performances and activity level compared to Joshua’s. The Ukrainian showed he was in peak condition and many were influenced to wager on his win. 

3. Analyze Sparring History

Fighters that have previously sparred together offer great betting opportunities when meeting in the ring. Accessing sparring history, videos or stories can reveal clues as to how the pair will perform underneath the lights.  

For example, Dmitry Bivol and Canelo Alvarez had reportedly engaged in sparring sessions before their professional bout. Using clips to compare fighters is a great way to gain insight into the upcoming bout. 

4. Compare Fighting Styles

Boxing comprises a range of different fighting styles which can significantly impact a match’s outcome. It’s wise to consider each boxer’s approach and how this will affect the performance of each fighter. 

For example, Tyson Fury’s unorthodox style proved difficult for Deontay Wilder’s powerful punch approach. Fury’s versatility and ability to adapt proved troublesome for his competition, making for a smart wager. 

5. Evaluate Psychological Factors

The mental state of both fighters is another key consideration to make before placing wagers. 

Most recently, Ryan Garcia’s social media meltdown caused many fans to place wagers against the American boxer. It was, however, a ruse, designed to lengthen the odds so that he could bet on himself and generate a larger profit. 

How Do You Place a Bet on Boxing?

Want to place a wager on the next big fight? Follow the below step-by-step guide and learn how to place a bet on boxing online.

1. Open Your Favourite Bookie 

Choosing a reputable bookmaker is the first and most important step to answering how to bet on boxing matches.

Open your favourite – or choose one of our recommended best betting sites. Create an account, sign in and deposit with the cashier. 

2. Navigate to the Boxing Markets 

After depositing, head over to the sports markets, identifying boxing from the list. View the live/upcoming events and select a bout that you’re interested in betting on. 

3. Select Your Bet Type

With the betting markets laid out on your screen, choose the bet type that you would like to place. For your first wager, start simple with an outright winner. Add the selection to your betslip.

4. Select Your Stake and Place Your Bet 

Once added to the betslip, enter your stake and choose “place bet” to lock in your wager. 

5. Consider Cash Out 

Most modern bookmakers will offer a cash-out option for the majority of sports bets. Head to the “My Bets” section and consider your options throughout the match. 

If you can earn a good profit from an early cash-out (or want to minimise your losses), this handy function gives you the opportunity. 

Understanding Boxing Rules

All professional boxing matches must adhere to a small, but important set of rules, followed by each fighter, the judges and the officials. The fundamental rules of boxing are as follows:

• Number of Rounds: Bouts may range between 4 and 12 rounds. Championship fights will typically last the full 12 rounds.
• Round Duration: Each round in a professional boxing match typically features three-minute rounds. Both fighters will then recover for one minute between rounds. 
• Stoppage: Fights may be stopped by the referee, following a knockout, technical knockout or decision. Fights may be stopped externally by a doctor or either fighter’s corner by “throwing in the towel”.  
• Knockdowns: A knockdown is characterised by any part of a fighter’s body (excluding their feet) touching the canvas in response to a strike. The referee will then count to ten. The fighter must arise from the canvas at this time to continue the bout. 
• Scoring: Each round in boxing is scored on a 10-point system. The winner of each round receives 10 points, the loser receives 9 or fewer. Scoring is determined by the performance of each fighter exclusively in the given round. 
• Fouls: Any actions of elbowing, headbutting or punching below the belt are considered fouls in boxing. The guilty party may be reprimanded with a warning, a deduction in points or disqualification. 

The rules are designed to keep fighters safe, encourage fair fighting, ensure fair scoring and produce a repeatable set of conditions.

Can Boxers Bet on Themselves?

Yes, boxers can bet on themselves – but only in specific circumstances. A boxer may place a bet on themselves to win outright, but all other markets are outlawed. 

For example, a boxer would not be able to wager that they would lose by knockout in the second round. 

What Are the Major Boxing Titles?

The titles that a professional boxer holds determine their prestige. All major boxing titles are sanctioned by one of four major organisations. Each organisation offers a different ranking system. Any boxer holding the title signifies that they are the best in that weight class. The four major boxing titles are as follows: 

• WBO – The World Boxing Organization, founded in 1988, was not formally recognized as a major title until 2004. Fights are rated by the competition quality, competition frequency and positive media exposure. Heavyweight champions must defend their title once per year. 
• IBF – The International Boxing Federation was formed in 1977, originally as a regional sanctioning body with the United States Boxing Association. In 1983, the IBF was officially recognized as one of the major international sanctioning bodies. 
• WBA – The World Boxing Association, formed in 1962, is the oldest of the four major sanctioning bodies. There are two championships held by the WBA – the “Super” and the “Regular”. A fighter holding a WBA title that goes on to win a WBO, IBF or WBC title is promoted from “Regular” to “Super”. The “Regular” title then becomes available for contenders to fight for. 
• WBC – The World Boxing Council, formed in 1963, is often considered to be the most prestigious of all four major sanctioning bodies. Both Wilder vs. Fury fights were held by the WBC. If a WBC title is held, many consider this to be the ultimate, only bettered by becoming a unified champion. 

Becoming a unified champion – holding multiple titles/belts at the same time – is the only way to better a single title in the sport. Becoming the undisputed champion, holding all titles at one time, is the pinnacle of the sport. Only Canelo Alvarez (Super Middleweight) and Naoya Inoue (Super Bantamweight) currently boast this accolade. 

Boxing Weight Classes Explained

Fighters compete in different weight classes to ensure a fair contest. There are 17 different weight classes, starting with Strawweight (105lbs, 47.6kg) and increasing to heavyweight (200+ lbs, 90.7+ kg). The table below outlines the main weight classes in professional boxing:

The enforcement of weight classes prevents fighters from competing as a much smaller or larger competitor. It creates a much fairer and much safer environment for all involved. 

What’s the Difference Between Undisputed vs Unified Champion?

In professional boxing, the terms “Undisputed” and “Unified” champions are often incorrectly used interchangeably. Both refer to fighters that hold multiple titles, but there is one key difference between the two.

A unified champion is a fighter who holds two or three of the four major world titles. They may be regarded as a top fighter, but they do not hold all of the titles. For example:

• Artur Beterbiev holds the WBC, IBF and WBO titles. He is a unified champion, but because he does not hold the WBA title, he cannot be regarded as undisputed.

An undisputed champion holds all four major titles from the main sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO). As they hold all of the titles, they can be regarded as the Undisputed champions. For example: 

• Oleksandr Usyk reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion from May to June 2024 after defeating Tyson Fury.  

Do “Favourite vs Underdog” Odds Accurately Predict Boxing Match Outcomes?

The favourite vs. underdog odds may be a helpful indicator, but they do not always correctly identify the winner of a boxing match. These odds are typically based on static data (height, weight, reach, win record, perceived skill, etc.) but there’s much more that goes into a bout. 

The outcome is much more heavily related to the current form of the fighter – a factor that is difficult to quantify. A successful/unsuccessful fight camp, recent injuries, personal life and general mindset shifts can all impact the form of a fighter. Even a highly-ranked, unified fighter may perform poorly on the night.  

Additionally, boxing styles may play an important role in the bout. Stylistic mismatches often produce upsets. A heavy-hitter may struggle against a fighter with lightning reflexes and skilful defence. Understanding how these play into the bout is crucial for truly understanding the odds.   

Should I Bet on “YouTuber Boxing”?

The trend of “YouTuber Boxing” has gained traction dramatically over the last few years. The likes of Logan and Jake Paul, KSI and Deji have brought their enormous audiences to the ring with the lure of the lucrative PPV payday. 

YouTube Boxing has also generated a huge buzz in terms of betting. It is, however, essential to approach these events with caution. The unpredictable nature and wildly differing skill levels greatly differ from professional boxing. It may be best to treat these matchups purely as a form of entertainment rather than a betting opportunity.