Boxing betting has never been so big thanks to the headline fights that flood the Paddy Power site every month. From big heavyweights like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, to unified champions Canelo Alvarez and Claressa Shields, there’s always a bout to bet on.
But if you’re new to boxing betting then it’s understandable if you don’t know where to start. After all, there are scores of fights taking place each weekend – how on earth does it all work?
Well, that’s where Paddy is here to help. We’ll explain the basics of boxing betting and the types of winning bet you can place.
We’ll also throw you a few boxing tips, so you can get started armed with a basic level of knowledge.
How boxing betting works
Let’s start with the simple stuff. Boxing betting allows punters the opportunity to back a fighter to win a bout. This is the easiest bet in boxing and the market that most will gravitate towards.
The boxing odds indicate the likelihood of a fighter winning. The longer the odds, the less chance the boxer has of winning, and therefore the bigger your potential profit.
Odds are either fractional or decimal, as shown:
- Fractional boxing odds: These show how much profit you make relative to your stake. Odds of 4/1 show you win £4 profit for every £1 you bet. So, if you bet £2 on a boxer to win and they do, you’ll earn £8 profit plus your £2 stake back = £10.
- Decimal boxing odds: These show your total return from a £1 bet. Odds of 5.00 means you’ll “get back” £5 if your £1 bet is successful (£4 profit + £1 stake = £5 return).
Remember, the odds show the likelihood of your bet winning. The bigger the odds, the less likely you are to turn a profit. Boxing betting is therefore a balancing act between risk and reward.
How to bet on boxing: Your ultimate guide
Check out the boxing betting odds and find a match today!
How to win at boxing betting
If you’re new to boxing betting then naturally you want to get started with a win. Well, sadly there is no guaranteed solution to securing winning bets in boxing. However, there are some simple tricks you can use to help get started.
The first one is to look for low-odds outcomes. These are the bets people place to win small amounts of profit at high levels of probability.
The second is to keep things simple. There are a lot of intricate boxing bets available in the Paddy Power app, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stick to the basics. Simple bets include:
- Fight winner – Who will win the bout
- Method of victory – Will the victor win via knockout, stoppage, or points
- Round of stoppage – Will the fight end in a particular round or group of rounds
These three betting markets should be enough to get you started. They’re easy to follow and, in many instances, one big favourite in a contest means the odds are heavily weighted in one direction. That’s good for bettors who want to follow our first time and seek out low-odds outcomes.
For example, you might bet on a flyweight title contest between one boxer priced at 1.20 and another at 6.00. Evidently the shorter-odds fighter is the favourite. A £1 bet only yields £1.20 back but you’re near-guaranteed to win the bet.
Boxing betting tips
You can check out regular boxing tips here, where we offer weekly picks on the biggest fights all over the world.
If you’re not ready for individual fight tips, and instead still want to know the basics, then check out our pointers below:
Do your research – You don’t always have to bet on the headline fight. Look for boxers who have an undefeated record but are still young in their careers. Those with 6-0 and 7-0 records are probably still fighting fall-guys to build their reputation. Research like this will give you an edge.
Track the form – If a fighter keeps winning by knockout in the fifth to eighth rounds, then it’s possible they’ll do the same again this time. Check their form and their usual method of victory before betting on that outcome.
Ignore the talk – Boxers love to talk and hype up their fights. However, it’s best to ignore this. Thousands of bettors backed David Haye to knock out Nikolay Valuev ahead of their heavyweight bout in 2009 after Haye punched the head off a Valuev cardboard cut-out in a press conference. Haye won the bout but came nowhere near to knocking the Russian’s block off!