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Boxing Betting
How to Bet on Boxing
It’s a good thing if you know all about the matchups and boxers, but it’s impossible to know how to bet on a boxing match if you don’t understand the betting half of the equation. Here’s a quick look at the different boxing odds you’ll find when you browse the lines at Bovada Sportsbook.
Boxing Moneyline Odds
This is the gold standard for boxing betting. Each of the two fighters will have a moneyline attached to their name; bet on which one will win, and if you’re right, you’ll be paid out once the fight is over and the result is made official. As an example, here’s the famous “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015:
- Manny Pacquiao +170
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. -210
Mayweather was the favorite in this welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, as indicated by the negative sign using the American odds format. A winning bet on Mayweather would have paid out $100 for every $210 wagered – or $10 for every $21, or any other multiple. Pacquiao, the underdog, would have paid out $170 for every $100 wagered had he won; in the end, Mayweather remained undefeated after a fairly convincing unanimous decision. Note that all bets on a fighter to win will be refunded if the result is a draw or a no contest.
Boxing Total Odds
Totals are used in boxing much like other sports. In this case, you’re asked whether a fight will go Over or Under a given number of rounds. Each half-round lasts 90 seconds; for the Over to cash in on a total of, say, 8.5 rounds, the fight must reach the 91st second of Round 9. Here’s a hypothetical example (totals weren’t available at the close) for the April 29, 2017 heavyweight bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua:
- Wladimir Klitschko 0 8.5 (-115)
- Anthony Joshua U 8.5 (-115)
The names of the fighters are irrelevant; what matters is that the line for the Over is quoted on the top, and the Under on the bottom. The total here is 8.5 rounds, and the numbers in parentheses refer to the payouts charged for each bet, which for this fight is –115 on both sides. That means you’re betting $115 to win $100. Joshua won by TKO in the 11th round, so the Over was the right call this time.
Boxing Method of Victory Odds
Boxing lends itself to a wide variety of proposition bets (or “prop bets” for short), where you wager on something other than the outcome of the match itself. The most popular prop bet in boxing is usually the Method of Victory, where you bet on how the match will end: decision, KO/TKO/DQ, or draw.
Boxing Fight Length Odds
Another popular boxing prop asks you to bet on exactly how many rounds the fight will last. Odds will be posted for one round, two rounds, and so on, all the way up to however many rounds are scheduled (usually 10 or 12). Fight Length odds for either boxer winning (e.g. Golovkin in the 12th) might also be posted if it’s a big enough event and the demand is there. Rules for what constitutes a full round or a half-round are the same as they are for totals.
Boxing Betting Tips
While betting on most team sports can be approached analytically using advanced statistics, individual sports like boxing are as much art as science. The superior boxer usually wins in this sport – luck isn’t much of a factor inside the squared circle. When two equally matched fighters face each other, the “clash of styles” often determines the winner; a patient, defensive fighter with stamina should have the advantage over an aggressive but less mobile opponent.
To learn more about how to bet on boxing, check out the FAQ and Help guides at Bovada Sportsbook, and make sure to refresh your browser for the latest updated odds and analysis on all the big fights on the boxing calendar.
