Boxing has been a popular sport among fans and bettors alike for over a century. Whether it’s a tightly contested affair between two heavyweights or a David vs. Goliath mismatch, every fight provides a great opportunity to win big. All you need to do is predict the outcome.
When it comes to betting on boxing, the price you get on your bets will depend on the sportsbook you pick, so choose wisely. Read our impartial expert reviews and guide to the basics of boxing betting to help make that decision a whole lot easier.
How to find the best boxing betting sites
As we often state at Compare.bet, best is a subjective word. That’s why we are the number one sports betting comparison site, because we aren’t telling you which site is the best for you – only you know that. We trim the long list of online bookmakers down to the very best, but ultimately the final choice is yours. However, we make the selection process as effortless as possible, so you don’t have to waste time searching for the diamond in the rough. That way, you can get in on the action much faster. Here are a few pointers to consider when picking a top online boxing betting site.
Market Depth
The nature of boxing means that, compared to high-scoring, free-flowing sports like soccer and basketball, there’s a limited range of markets, but there are still some great betting options. Of course, the main attraction is deciding who will win the fight, but you can also take advantage of these additional markets, where you might even find better value bets.
To Win Fight
This is still the most popular market on any of the top boxing betting sites. It’s a simple 3-way decision: will boxer A win? Boxer B? Or, will it be a tie?
Fight Outcome
On the surface, this market may seem identical to the match result bet, but the fight outcome is the method by which the final result is judged. Therefore, you can bet on either boxer winning by KO, TKO, disqualification, technical decision or decision. There is also the option for a draw or technical draw.
Round Betting
You can bet on which round the fight will finish, and at some bookmakers, you’ll be able to combine this with the match result. You can get some tasty odds if you do guess right. For example, Rocky Fielding is 10000 to win in round 10 against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, which is far better value than betting on either market in isolation.
Round Group Betting
Round group betting is where you bet on a cluster of rounds for each boxer. This market allows a larger margin for error. For instance, you could bet on a fighter to win in rounds 1 – 3. Naturally, the odds aren’t as good as betting on the nose, but you stand a better chance of guessing correctly.
Will the Fight go the Distance?
A simple yes/no market, where you bet on whether or not the fight will end before the total number of maximum rounds has been played. Professional bouts are limited to twelve rounds, however most are fought over four, six, eight or ten rounds. The maximum length of a fight depends on the experience of the contestants involved.
Total Rounds
This is essentially an under/over betting market. So, let’s say the sportsbook chooses 7.5 rounds as the line, you’ll have to decide whether the number of rounds in the fight will go under or over.
Down But Not Out
Several bookmakers offer markets on a boxer getting knocked down but coming back to win. A risky tactic, as you wouldn’t assume a fighter that’s knocked down is closing in on victory, but the high prices on offer here might be enough to tempt you.
Live Betting
The top boxing betting sites will have live in-play betting on all the big fights. Due to the nature of boxing events, the markets on offer during the course of the fight are largely similar to the pre-match markets. One of the few additions you can expect to see is the ability to bet on the result of the next round. However, be prepared for some dramatic swings in prices as the action ebbs and flows. If a boxer gets knocked down, for example, the odds on them to win are likely to skyrocket. Could this be a good time to back them? High risk, high reward – that’s part of the entertainment of sports betting.
Specials & Promotions
Unfortunately, boxing has a history of the best avoiding the best on an all too frequent basis. A prime example of this was Floyd Mayweather Vs Manny Pacquiao which happened five years too late in the eyes of many boxing fans. This means you’ll often find lopsided contests, where the boxing betting odds on the favourite aren’t favourable for bettors. In these instances, specials and promotions are used to attract bettors.
Bonuses
Unlike sports like football, which lend themselves to weekly free bet clubs, the lack of frequent major boxing events means there isn’t much opportunity for great rewards for existing boxing bettors. Still, that doesn’t mean all is lost. The majority of the top bookmakers will have some kind of welcome offer that normally can be used across a range of sports, including matched deposits and free bets.
Deposit bonus
This is a classic online casino promotion that’s found its way over to sports bookmakers as well. Its beauty is in its simplicity. You make your first deposit and the bookmaker will give you a percentage match. A common example is ‘100% up to $100’. So, if you deposit $100, you have $200 to bet with.
Of course, you’re not simply being given $100; there will be terms and conditions attached that you must complete in order to profit from this bonus, so you’ll need to read the small print to find out what they are. There will most certainly be a minimum odds requirement, so you probably won’t be able to back a red hot favourite.
Free Bets
Another popular new customer bonus is the free bet. To claim one, you’ll usually have to sign up and deposit a specified minimum amount, then the bookmaker will give you some free bets to enjoy. Again, you’ll likely encounter a minimum price threshold, but all things considered, this is an excellent offer. After all, even if you’re unsuccessful with your free boxing bets, you still have your original deposit to bet with as you wish.
Mobile
It goes without saying nowadays that all the leading betting sites are geared up to provide mobile bettors with a premium quality betting experience anytime, any place. It is, however, still worth checking out the full list of options offered by the bookmakers on this page. Some have specific mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, whilst others use mobile-optimized web-based platforms. If you have a preference, use our list to guide you to the right site.
Boxing Betting Tips
As with all forms of sports betting, the key to greater success is research and knowledge. Many online bookmakers now offer a stats section, this is worth its weight in gold before betting.
It’s an old cliche, but fighting styles can have a huge impact on the outcome of a fight. Does one of the boxer possess overwhelming knockout power? For this you can check their previous record. If you notice a trend of victories that don’t go the distance, you might fancy your chances of betting on the fight to end with a knockout.
Also, as witnessed in December 2018’s Wilder Vs Fury fight, the location of the bout can have an impact on the outcome. Many pundits believe if that fight had happened outside of the US, Fury would have had his hand raised as the winner. So if you find that a boxer is going toe to toe with their opponent in their hometown, you might want to think twice before betting against them.
Compare & Bet
Now that we’ve shown you the ropes when it comes to betting on boxing, you should be more clued up on what to look out for when choosing a betting site. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at the top boxing betting sites on our list and pick out one that ticks all your boxes. We’ve provided direct links for each site, meaning you only need to click to be taken to a page where you can register in minutes. Claim your bonus and start betting today!
