Ever since Joyce Oates’ On Boxing has detailed the sport’s greats and shone a light on the world of pugilists and some of their historic fights, the populace has absolutely been enamored with boxing.
In its initial days, the sport was strife with allegations of fixing and mysterious ruling, but today, boxing is an entertaining and exciting sport which is easy to follow and boasts millions of fans.
Ever been envious of how much the winning fighter makes? Well, now, you too can make some dough off a fight.
Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Do Your Homework
First things first, history is everything. Before doing anything else, you need to know both fighters’ record. You should look out for the following:
- Have they fought before? How many times?
- Who won which fight?
- What were the odds of the match and how do they compare with the results?
- Have they reformed their technique?
Then, you should focus on the individual fighter and try to develop a comprehensive understanding. To truly know where to put your money, you need to see the boxer in action.
Watch old footage, recorded matches, essentially anything you can find. Once you can establish a baseline for a fighter, you can use it to make a good assessment of the odds in any fight. Ask yourself:
- How many fights has this fighter fought? How many have they won?
- Is your fighter recovering from an injury? If you know this, surely their opponent does too.
- Does your boxer perform better when they are heavier, say, going from welterweight (147 lb. max) to cruiserweight (200 lb. max)?
- Has the fighter recently suffered a loss?
- Is the fighter emotionally well?
There are several resources that can help you find what you need to know:
BoxRec
This is a time-tested favorite when it comes to ringside statistics. It is widely used and accurate and happens to be the de facto scorekeeper in Europe.
BoxStat
BoxStat’s claim to fame is its use of modern metrics. Presenting information visually gives it an edge over the competition.
CompuBox
CompuBox tells you about punches, throws and everything boxing. However, it is a bit nuanced in how it defines punches, throws and jabs and should, thus, be interpreted carefully.
Common Types of Bets
With more than 15 different weight classes (and a dizzying number of word titles), there are actually thousands of fights with one major fight on average scheduled every month.
This ‘spectrum of fights,’ if you will, invokes all kinds of bets from the meager to the outlandish. Knowing where you should put your money is important.
Take It Home
Perhaps the most obvious and popular bet is about which boxer will win the fight (or if it will be a draw). This is usually where the big winnings are.
Method of Victory
You bet on the winner and how they win, i.e., points, draw, etc.
Will They Stand?
Round betting, as it is called, is all about analysis. In which round will the fight finish? Will it be a quick fight or a long, drawn-out match that tests stamina?
How Many Rounds?
Essentially round betting, but you have some wiggle room – rounds will be grouped together in 3s or 4s. You may choose this if you aren’t comfortable or confident with locking down a specific round.
Will It Go the Distance?
Will the fight go to completion or will it be stopped? This could be a corner stoppage, a TKO (technical knockout) or a simple KO (knockout).
A Word of Advice
Remember that the sport comes first and foremost. Many fans will tell you that boxing brings out the most admirable qualities of being human and it offers something for everyone.
These fans are right because boxing should be enjoyed as a sport and never as a means to ruin your financial health on a whim.
Several former boxing fans have fell into the dark hole known as a gambling addiction and are now struggling to get a hold of their lives.
There are better and safer ways to enjoy the adrenaline rush that betting gives you. A good alternative is playing free online pokies games. With this in mind, go out there and have fun!
