Win the title with our knockout boxing guide

How to bet on Boxing - All you need to know!

Boxing or prize fighting as it was originally known is one of the most popular worldwide sports in existence with professional fighters coming from all over the world. A basic sport, it is contested by two individuals with the aim of beating your opponent by incapacitating them so they can’t continue. In modern years for safety reasons another way to win is by beating them by points over the designated pre-fight number of rounds which usually last 3 minutes each.

Fighters are separated by weight class and gender to ensure fair matchups and the aim is simply to be the best in your own weight class with the true greats recognised as the best pound for pound fighters*. This sport lends itself heavily to gambling and has a long history entwined with gambling and (due to dubious early legality) - criminal aspects. Huge money can be made by boxers, TV channels, boxing organisations and promoters on individual fights (known as a purse) and this has led to some dilution of the world champions in recent times in each weight class as they look to protect their interests and avoid their fighters prospects being devalued by losing- therefore avoiding facing other top ranked opponents.

There has also been a more recent explosion in celebrity and Youtuber fights with a mixed response from traditionalists but with widespread popularity amongst the younger generation. At the end of the day a core instinct in human nature is to want to know who is the toughest man (or women) in your school, town, country or on the planet!

Here we will outline the various ways to bet on boxing and how to bet on boxing if you are just starting out or just want some general information.

*Pound for pound is used as a way of ranking fighters from different weights who couldn’t possibly meet in the ring, the heavyweight champion vs the featherweight champion for instance

The history of boxing

It’s probably fair to say a punch up has been part of human history since antiquity, however tracing this as a formal sport with set rules has been a difficult task for historians. The first evidence of boxing as a sport seems to come from Eithopia and Egypt in the 3rd century BC. From here it spread to ancient Greece and the early olympics and also ancient Rome where it proved incredibly popular alongside the more bloodthirsty amphitheatre sports.

From the 16th century onwards bare knuckle boxing became increasing popular and a first English champion was named as James Figg in 1711. Bareknuckle fights in these early days were brutal chaotic affairs with no rules and fighters risked serious injury and death. There were no weight divisions leading to some crazy mis-matched bouts and the “ring” was usually a ring of standing spectators. Unlicensed and illegal the fights would often take place in gambling dens and could be broken up by the police at any time. The early competitors were often the poor* and the bored rich, it not being a sport the middle classes would want to compete in!

With the popularity of prize fighting this situation couldn’t continue without some regulation!!

Various sets of rules were introduced. The Broughton Rules introduced in 1743 tried to protect so many fighters from death with a 30 second knockout count. In 1838 the London prize ring rules outlawed headbutting, gouging, holding onto the ropes (as more formal rings were introduced) as well as the use of stones or heavy objects being held in the hand!!! This era of boxing was incredibly known as the sweet science by journalists of the time!

In 1867 however the Marquess of Queensbury rules were introduced (mainly used with some updates still to this day) These rules, amongst other things, limited round time to 3 minutes, introduced use of gloves, specified fair fights between weight sizes and stipulated the size of the ring. From here boxing that we know today followed. Amateur boxing and professional boxing split with more protection guaranteed (head guards and shorter bouts) and Olympic status for the non full timers.

Boxing took it’s time to gain legitimacy through the end of  the 19th century and start of the 20th but the huge popularity of heavyweight champions like John L Sullivan, and the much publicised Jack Johnson’s** reign as world champion alongside the huge money to be made through gates and selling of fight films led it to become too popular to ban.

*Many freed slaves who fought for the British in the American war of independence where pioneers of the sport in the 1500s, and poor British and American blacks were often popular champions locally down the years- breaking down some racial boundaries - it being a sport that was seen as socially acceptable for blacks at the time

**”Negro” Jack Johnson beat all comers for 6 years as heavyweight champ, leading to the term “the great white hope” being attached to anyone sent in the ring for a pummelling from him!

Weight Divisions in Boxing

It’s worth taking a quick minute to talk about weight divisions. There are 8 main weight classifications in boxing - and these break down into 19 further divisions with the addition of either super, mini or junior classes of each. It is necessary that each boxer makes the specified weight is checked pre fight at the weigh in the day before a fight. Often a no contest is called if either boxer fails to make the weight. Be careful if a boxer comes in overweight - the fight can still go ahead without a belt or ranking places being fought for. In general the heavier man will be favourite in these contests - pre fight odds often change after a weigh in

Heavyweight

Light Heavyweight

Middleweight

Welterweight

Lightweight

Featherweight

Bantamweight

Catchweight*

*Catchweight fights are fought between two boxers from different weight classes who agree a minimum and maximum weight they can both aim for to make the fight fairer

Betting wise - the heavier a boxer weighs the more likely the fight will finish earlier as they can hit with much more power than a smaller fighter. As a guide for instance a good knockout merchant in the heavyweight or light heavy division will usually win fights in the first 4 rounds, whilst a comparable fighter at a lower weight will probably be winning in rounds 5-8.

The top three boxing Betting Bookies in the UK

Bet 365

Being formed in the year 2000, Bet365 are the online market leaders of the betting world and are everywhere online. If they cover a sport they do it well and comprehensively and as usual make our top 3 sites here.  Bet365 will strive to have the best odds on a majority of big name fights with their boxing betting odds guaranteed, and their welcome bonus can be used on boxing. Furthermore Bet365 are one of the few sites to offer betbuilders on boxing matches allowing you to cater for knockdowns and all the ups and downs of fight night. They have recently added in fight live statistics and graphics to support your in-play bets.

William Hill

You may well have seen William Hill sponsorship signs when you have been watching a boxing match as they have forged strong links with boxing promoters and organisers over their many years as a commercial bookmakers.  They like to get odds and markets available on their site early, and usually have them up as soon as a fight is confirmed. They have an impressive range of markets to bet on and will add more as the fight approaches to the early standard markets. Being involved in sponsorship means they will also run bonuses and promotions on bouts to increase the profile of fights so they are a great place to go for free bets on boxing. You can use the YourOdds tool to bet on anything you want during a fight as well or for long term markets, fancy the unheard of chap you’ve just seen score a quick knockout on the undercard, why not back him as a future world champion. With a strong affinity for boxing and it being such a well known brand William Hill is a safe and secure site for your boxing wagers.

BetFred

Betfred have been in the UK gambling market since the 1960’s and they are a well established secure site to place your online wagers. Much like WIlliam Hill they have put time and effort into building links with boxing and you’ll often see their boards and advertising adorning the ring on fight nights. They offer competitive odds and their dedicated boxing section offers an extensive list of markets for upcoming fights. BetFred are known for bet boosts and these are regularly extended to their markets on boxing. They have a nice and simple outlay to their website so it’s easy to get your bets placed quickly and with no fuss

The Best New Boxing Betting Sites

How many and what leagues and countries covered, is there live streaming of any? How many betting markets? Can you request a bet? What are the odds like? Any bonuses or promotions - relevant ones like 2up / odds boosts? Can you cash out / partial cash out? What are they good at?

Parimatch

A relatively new online option for UK bettors (despite running since 1994) Parimatch have it’s original roots in boxing mad Ukraine, so unsurprisingly have a good focus on their boxing coverage. They have a wide range of markets available on worldwide fight nights. Their odds compare favourably on boxing ensuring value for money. The boxing section of the site is stand alone so you can check all the upcoming action early and know what fights are scheduled. Whilst much like everyone else, can't offer any live streaming for your in-play bets they do have in depth statistics and graphs to help you see what way the fight is going and aid you when you want to take a gamble mid fight.

Is betting on boxing in the UK legal

Yes it is, explain 18+, UKGC, anti moneylaundering rules, that sort of thing. Do not go overboard just the basics that the answer is “yes”. Could add it is tax free?

Could add something about bare knuckle boxing being illegal though? Something about licenced fights only.

Betting on Boxing is absolutely legal to do in the UK. All UK bookmakers are regulated by the UKGC who provide the licences and they ensure that all customers are over 18 to register for any account or place any bets and also that they are living in the UK. Of course you must also use your own money to gamble with and the UK differs from some other countries in that Crypto currency can not be used.

You can however only bet on licenced fights, bareknuckle bouts are not covered this still being illegal nor will you find some local fights listed on betting sites. If the fight is listed on major betting sites then this will mean the fight is licensed and bets will be allowed

Some good news is that not only is gambling legal all winnings are tax free regardless of how much or how often you win.

Popular Boxing Betting Markets

Bout Winner

Based simply on picking the winner of the fight by any means, be it points, TKO, knockout or stoppage. You can also cover a draw

Round Markets

Predicting which round the fight will end, you can choose an exact round or cover more than one in some cases depending on the bookmakers

Method of Victory

Choosing both a fighter and a win method - Tyson Fury by stoppage / Anthony Joshua on points

Knockout Markets

Predicting if there will be a knockout in the fight

Knockdown Markets

Whether  fighter will be knocked down, or whether either fighter will go down during the fight, or possibly a fighter to be knocked down at any stage and still win on points

Accumulator bets

For a bit of fun on fight nights you can predict a selection of bout winners from the undercard/main event - or spread this across a series of upcoming fights when a site allows

Which bookmakers offer the best live betting?

Despite the lack of live streaming most sites offer in play bets during the fights, and the breaks between rounds mean you have a window in which to back a fighter going down or making a storming comeback. Most sites that have a boxing section will offer you this feature

At Which Bookmakers can I Watch Live Streams of the Fights and can I Make Bets on Those Bouts?

With fights in massive demand from both TV and streaming companies and most fighters having pre-fight contracts that include TV /PayperView sales in their fight purses, you sadly won’t find any of the major bouts available to watch on live betting sites.

What payment methods do they accept?

The exact payment methods each bookmaker accept will vary, and details are available either from our reviews or the betting site FAQ page.

Below are the various payment methods used across all of the UK online betting websites.

• Debit Cards (Visa / Mastercard)
• Pre Paid Cards (Paysafecard)
• E  -Wallets (Paypal, Skrill, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Bank Transfers

What are the best Boxing betting Welcome Offers

Not all welcome bonuses will be available to use on boxing, and you may have to wait for a fight to coincide with a welcome offer to get the best value. However equally some sites may have fight tie ins through sponsorship and therefore offer a boxing exclusive for new members. The sites below all offer a welcome bonus that can be used on their boxing sportsbook.

What are the best boxing betting existing user bonuses

In general it’s best to see what’s offered when a big fight is due, you will find sites will offer price boosts and special markets for individual fights

Betting Apps

A betting app on your phone will usually offer the quickest way to access your chosen betting site and place bets while you are out and about. Considering the amount of time you probably spend on your mobile the easiest way to sign up and use most sites.

You will be encouraged to download the app and sometimes there are specific bonuses available only if you have done so.

What are the Best Boxing betting Apps

Bet365 -Well established with quick and easy navigation with live streaming, in play bets, bet builder tools and features  Rated 4.6 Google play & 4.7/5 App Store

Ladbrokes - A simple layout and easy to use, low minimum stakes and deposits and a high number of bonuses and offers available.Rated 4.0 Google & 4.6/5 app store

Betfred - Quick to use with a simple layout and large buttons when selecting odds they also offer regular free app bet promotions. Rated 3.8 Google & 4.4/5 app Store

What are the major boxing events or matches popular for betting on in the UK

The nature of boxing does not lend itself to tournament structures at professional level. Whilst conversely amateur fighting almost always takes place in form of a tournament,! Betting wise amateur events have far less coverage with short fights of 3 rounds there is less markets other than outright winner. The Olympic events themselves probably being the only place you may be able to freely bet on.

For boxing you will generally have a one night boxing card - with either a world championship bout, or a fight between two well known or up and coming contenders for the world championship which is known as the main event plus extra fights known as the undercard. This means you will have numerous fights to bet on over the evening

Main Event

Your main event is the headline fight that evening- this will usually be for a world championship or the chance to fight for a world championship and unless its a women’s or Youtuber bout it will be fought over the championship distance of 12 rounds lasting three minutes each

Most pre fight promotional material relate o the main bout and so you should have plenty of opportunity to size up both boxers chances and there will be a full range of markets for all big fights.

The Undercard

Attached to the main event will be a series of other bouts known as the undercard. Fights on the undercard vary -  showcasing up and coming talent, boxers on the comeback trail, they may include women’s fights, local fan favourites, be for european or American championship belts or even be for world championships of a lesser weight or status

To this end these fights will be scheduled from anything from 4 - 12 rounds and a more detailed look into the odds and background of fighters is advised to ensure you know both the chances of an upset or quick knockout, the condition of fighters and the fight lengths.

What are the main boxing events coming up in 2025

The Nature of boxing means fights that we all want to see may not be made when we want them to be, Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury for instance still hasn’t happened despite it being called for by everyone for many years. Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson took years to happen, as did Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquio

Rest assured we will cover all the big boxing events here at betbrothers and a full boxing calendar of scheduled fights so you never miss out on any betting action

Womens Boxing

The first recorded women’s bout is actually from a fight in 1790 between two females over a man that was fought bareknuckle in a ring with proper seconds and won by a Mary Farmery. However like many other sports women suffered from large scale exclusions. It was an exhibition sport in the 1904 olympics, and the sport was growing in the 1920’s with championship fights in weight classes and all women’s gyms set up, however widespread disapproval followed and it was as good as outlawed internationally until the late 1980s.

Further battles were still to be fought for gender recognition and the British boxing board didn’t sanction bouts (and these amateur only) until 1997. The World boxing council finally accepted professionalism of the sport from 2010 and now women’s matches are held on men’s undercards, and they are headlining their own events - where men’s bouts can take place on the undercards!

Betting on these is as simple as betting on a male boxing bouts with no distinction needed and all the same markets.

Pros and Cons of betting on boxing

Frequently Asked Questions

Do different boxing styles mean I should bet differently?

Yes! There are a number of different boxing styles and this will affect a way a fighter generally wins, for instance a high pressure puncher will usually win in the early rounds, a counter puncher is more likely to win by late knock out or by points.

Why is a boxer called a southpaw?

A southpaw stance means a boxer is left handed, and leads with his left. Less people are left handed so there are less southpaws and it can make a big difference in fights as right handed boxers need to learn how to deal with a southpaw. Switch hitters are boxers who can lead comfortably with their left or right and change stance.

Is Match Fixing Common in Boxing?

Match fixing has been an issue in boxing since it began, and rumours of fighters “taking a dive” to suit gamblers or criminal bosses are common place. In terms of the major fights today it is less of an issue but still at large in unlicensed and bare knuckle fights.

What happens if my fighter is accused of Doping before or after the fight?

Performance enhancing drugs, mainly use of steroids, are a major issue for boxing. A pre or post fight positive test can lead to fight postponement, cancellation or a no-contest being called even after a result has happened. Various bookies have various rules for this with some offering money back in these circumstances

Can you make a living betting on Boxing?

Betting should be fun and you not should base your monthly bills on your ability to pick a winner! Shocks happen. If your gambling is becoming an issue then you should seek help and take a break, never chase losses. Only ever gamble with what you can afford to lose