Boxing is one of the oldest, recorded sports known to man and the notion of two pugilists fighting it out has been with us for centuries. At the same time, wagering on a match has grown alongside the sport and it continues to peak.
In a similar manner to horse racing, boxing betting started on an informal basis: We would have seen gentlemen’s bets between two individuals in those early days but over time, the practise became more organised. In the modern day, it’s easier than ever before to place a bet on any professional bout. More and more new boxing betting operators are getting involved in the sport and they are more competitive than ever before.
If you’d like to know more about the best boxing betting sites, here is our comprehensive guide.
Best Boxing Betting Sites
[bonuses id=”SPORT_MEGA”]Let’s firstly consider what we should be looking for when we sign up with a sports betting site. Our preferences may differ on the smaller points but in general, we are all trying to find two key elements – choice and value. Choice comes through a wide range of boxing betting markets and we’ll identify what options and boxing betting odds are available in a later section. All sports betting sites will quote prices for the result of a bout but what happens when we want to go a little deeper? If they have a wider set of boxing odds it will help the betting operator to make it onto our recommended list.
Value is an obvious factor and this comes through competitive boxing betting odds. If one sports betting website consistently quotes 2/1 on a fighter while a competitor lists 3/1, it’s obvious as to where we should be placing our money. Those odds can be lifted at times by price boosts and other promotions but the everyday numbers should be as sharp as possible.
With that in mind, there is a good selection of boxing betting odds available and while you are free to do your own research, we would like to recommend the following:
- William Hill
- Coral
- Ladbrokes
Our first category relates to boxing bookmakers who have been around for many, many years. All of these brands started life long before the internet was even dreamt of and that longevity will help to convey an atmosphere of trust.
Having a trusted name shouldn’t be the only factor behind your choice. Ladbrokes, Coral and Hills also provide excellent boxing odds plus some exceptional bonuses and we wouldn’t recommend them if they didn’t provide top value.
- Unibet
- 888Sport
- Betway
- 10Bet
- Bet365
Our second set of boxing betting sites were among the first to take advantage of the new digital betting landscape. In all cases, they have been online for at least ten years and have also had time to establish a trusted reputation.
Like the names in our first category, those five betting sites also provide competitive boxing odds which are backed up by the potential for further offers and promotions. The boxing betting range is also strong so once again, those betting operators are ticking all of our boxes.
- SportNation
- Royal Panda
- EnergyBet
- LV BET
The last four recommendations feature boxing betting sites that may not be familiar to the casual punter. They are all relatively new when compared to the other companies mentioned but that doesn’t mean that they should be overlooked. They are exceptional in their field and are worth more attention as they look to grab a share of the betting market.
All four names meet those same requirements of excellent boxing betting odds with extensive boxing markets so we would urge you to at least check them out.
Boxing Betting Guide
Hopefully we have now helped you to find a boxing bookmaker and now it’s time to move on to the next step. If you’re a sports fan but only have a passing interest in boxing then you’ll be aware that the big boxing matches come up on a semi-regular basis. We’re talking about the big heavyweight world title fights where you might be asked to pay a substantial sum to watch them on live TV.
Boxing betting will intensify around these events but did you know that there is a whole host of professional bouts taking place on virtually every weekend across the sporting year? Fans and experienced punters already know this so there is a lot to take advantage of if you look closely enough.
So the first element is to know where the value is: It may not actually lie in those big title bouts and you should, perhaps, be looking at the undercard to see if there are some attractive boxing odds down below.
The other point to bear in mind is that you don’t have to bet on the result of the bout. This is still the most popular boxing option for many because surprise wins can occur and we’ve also seen a number of high profile draws in recent years. Odds on the draw can start at around the 25/1 mark so clearly there are some serious profits to be had at times.
However, we should keep in mind that there are lots of betting odds that we can target.
Betting Types
We’ve dealt with the result betting and the three options that are available – a win for either boxer or a draw. Next, we’ll take a look at a market known as Method of Victory. Maybe you are convinced that a specific fighter is going to win their battle but they go into the fight with very short boxing odds. In this scenario, it is possible to improve on those odds if you can accurately predict how they will actually win.
Typically, you will see a total of four possible boxing bets and they will be split equally between the two boxers. Each fighter will have an option for Knockout, Technical Knockout and Disqualification and then the second bet is for decision or technical decision.
By going back over previous fights for the boxer concerned you can get some clues and if there are any head to head stats available that’s even better.
Most bookmakers will also publish a market on whether the fight will go the distance and this involves making a simple Yes or No decision. Once again, results from previous bouts can help you to make a decision on this one.
If we look a little deeper, boxing bets on which round the bout will finish are also available and in the live betting markets, you can also stake on the winners of each round.
While there may be more odds attached to other sports, boxing offers a good opportunity to explore some additional side bets so, if you want to stray from betting on the overall outcome, there are lots of excellent options.
Brief History and Facts
The idea of two men standing up and fighting each other will surely have dated back many thousands of years. As far as organised boxing matches are concerned, we can be fairly certain that the very first recorded account can be traced back to Ancient Egypt in 3000BC.
The sport was certainly adopted by the Greeks who incorporated it into the early versions of the Olympic Games which were held in 7BC. When the modern Olympics took over, the sport was first included back in 1904 in St Louis. The United States were the only country who competed so, not surprisingly, they would win all of the medals at a time when the nation was dominating the sport. In the first half of the 20th century, the US gave us some of the household names in boxing such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano and this pattern has continued for much of the sport’s history.
In the 1970s, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were among those who contributed to a golden era. They would soon be joined by George Foreman and in time, they would pass the mantle on to the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. Deontay Wilder is a very successful American boxer these days.
But it wasn’t all about American boxers: Lennox Lewis was a native of Canada but would eventually win a world title for Great Britain. Another fabled British boxer was Frank Bruno who tried for many years to win a world title and eventually succeeded.
The heavyweight boxers tend to dominate the headlines and we’ve mentioned some of the world’s best in that round up. However, some of the greatest names in boxing have come from other divisions including Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. For British fight fans, who could ever forget those amazing battles between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn? The sport is all about its characters and it looks to be in good hands moving forwards. The most popular British fighters at the time of writing are probably Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. As long as the sport continues to thrive, the community will be right behind it and will continue to grow the game around the sportsbooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There A Dead Heat Rule In Boxing?
Because sportsbooks offer an option to bet on the draw, there is no dead heat to apply. If you have placed a bet on either boxer to win, your stake will therefore be forfeited if the fight ends in a draw.
What Happens If A Boxer Is Disqualified?
If a fighter is disqualified for whatever reason, their opponent is judged to have won the bout. Therefore, you can collect a profit as long as you back the boxer who remains in the contest.
Remember that disqualification is also an option in the Method of Victory betting.
Can I Bet In The Live Markets?
The majority of boxing betting sites now have an active set of live markets and boxing is a sport which enjoys wide coverage. So, if you prefer boxing betting in play to taking on the ante post equivalents there should be lots of odds to do so.
Can I Live Stream Boxing Matches?
Some of the boxing betting sites that we’ve mentioned in the previous category provide extensive live streaming opportunities. So, if you don’t have an expensive television package it may still be possible to watch all the action live, as it unfolds.
Check with the individual betting site concerned to find out what boxing bouts they are covering in the upcoming weeks and make a note in your diary. You should also check on the terms and conditions that apply. For example, most boxing betting sites that provide live streaming will ask that you are a registered customer and that you have funds in your account. In some cases, you may be required to actually bet on the fight in question.
Any terms that apply shouldn’t be too prohibitive and this can be an excellent way in which to enhance your enjoyment of gambling.
