
Finding the best boxing odds really gives your betting adventure a huge lift off. Understanding how to interpret odds, knowing which markets to bet on and when to place your bets can make all the difference to your profit column.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about boxing odds comparisons. We’ll be looking at how boxing betting odds are calculated, different betting strategies and how to compare odds. It’s all designed to give you the best chance of maximising your profit from boxing odds today.
If you’re new to boxing betting odds, you might be asking yourself ‘do I need to worry about finding the best boxing odds’? After all, surely most betting sites offer pretty much the same markets and odds?
You might be surprised to discover there are big variations in boxing betting odds across different sites and markets. A boxer priced at 2-1 on one site could be as high as 5-1 elsewhere. Betting at the higher price will increase your potential winnings by over 100%.
The problem is that there are so many boxing betting odds and markets out there that it’s impossible to look at every available price. That’s why a boxing odds comparison tool should be a key part of your betting luggage. It will help you find the best boxing odds, save you time and ultimately make you more money.
Believe it or not, but many people still go to betting shops to place their bets. High Street betting has a loyal following, but in-person gamblers are missing out on some of the key benefits of betting online:
Whilst betting has been around since the days of Ancient Greece, it wasn’t until the late 18th century that a man named William Ogden decided to offer fixed odds on the outcome of horse races. This led to a huge surge of interest in betting and very soon the industry was flourishing.
By the early twentieth century, betting on boxing had become very popular, thanks to stars like Jack Demsey and Jack Johnson. This popularity only grew further throughout the century as the likes of Joe Louis, Sonny Liston and Muhammed Ali transcended the sport and created interest amongst sports fans from all over the world.
Because of how unpredictable boxing is, there have been plenty of long odds winners over the years. Probably the most famous was Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson in 1990. Douglas was seen as being no match for the unbeaten heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. However, Douglas sent shockwaves around the world and made a mockery of his 42-1 odds by out duelling Tyson before knocking him out in the ninth round.
Nowadays boxing betting odds are available all over the world. Typically they are displayed in one of three ways:
On most betting sites, you can change the setting to display the odds in your preferred format.
In simple terms, odds are the likelihood of an event occurring. When putting together boxing betting odds, bookmakers take into account factors such as form, historical records, injuries and any previous bouts between the fighters.
However, boxing betting odds are slightly more complicated than that, because bookmakers want to make a profit. So when they calculate odds, they not only take into account the likelihood of something happening, they also factor in the bookie’s exposure at betting exchanges and their profit margin.
Of course, bookies also want your custom, so they will try to make their odds attractive. It all adds up to a figure that can be difficult to ascertain the value of.
One way of assessing the appeal of odds is to calculate their expected value (EV). This is a measure of what you can expect to win or lose per bet, placed on the same odds multiple times. It’s a complicated calculation but luckily there are calculators to do the hard work for you!
There are many different ways to bet on boxing. The degree of risk varies, as does the time and effort involved. Here are three of the most popular betting strategies:
This is a way of taking advantage of the variations in odds between different bookmakers. Let’s say Terence Crawford is fighting Errol Spence Jr, one bookmaker has Crawford at 1.53 to win, whilst another has Spence at 3.10 to win. By betting at both sites and adjusting your stakes, you can guarantee yourself a return of just over 103% on investment. It’s not a huge profit, but if repeated frequently on different markets, it will lead to a steady profit.
The opposite of betting on an outcome happening. You use betting exchanges to bet against it happening. If you think that (e.g.) Deontay Wilder will NOT win his next fight in the opening three rounds, you can use a betting exchange to bet against that happening. This is an especially popular option when betting in-play.
A strategy that takes advantage of the promotions offered by bookmakers. Matched bettors use betting exchanges to minimise their losses and increase their value from free bets and bonuses.
Here are some of the most popular boxing markets to be on:
It’s easy to make mistakes when looking for the best boxing odds. Everyone makes mistakes, but there are a few steps you can take to minimise your mistakes and avoid missing out on winning bets. Here are some common mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Finding the best boxing odds requires a lot of research. Boxing odds comparison tools are hugely helpful in helping you maximise your profits, but you still need to decide which betting sites to sign up to and which boxing bets to place. This section will help steer you in the right direction by outlining how you can find the best sites for boxing odds today, as well as giving you some top tips on what to look for when studying the markets:
There are literally hundreds of destinations to choose from when it comes to boxing betting odds. Deciding which ones to use is tricky and potentially time consuming. Of course, you want the best odds, but there are a few other factors you need to consider:
Now you’ve got some ideas on which destinations to choose, you need to decide how to spend your money. As with all sports, the more you know the better your chances are. Compared to many sports, boxing is actually easier and less complicated to research. After all, there are always two competitors, one ring and a set amount of rounds. In contrast, looking for cricket betting odds or the best soccer odds involves assessing hundreds of variable factors. Whilst looking for golf odds today means scouting over a hundred competitors.
But what specifically should you research and how should you intercept the information?
How a boxer has performed recently is far more important than looking at their overall record. A fighter may have a record of 22 wins and three losses, but if those losses have all occurred in his previous four fights then it suggests he’s either out of form or on a career decline. It’s commonplace for veteran fighters to fade in the latter stages of their career, so make sure you look at a boxer’s last few fights when assessing their form.
Whilst the above point is generally a simple piece of research, it is worth digging a little deeper. Occasionally, a boxer’s recent record can be misleading.
For example, prior to his 2016 bout with Anthony Joshua, Charles Martin was the undefeated IBF heavyweight champion of the world. He’d defeated Vyacheslav Glazkov to win the title in his previous fight, so on the face of it he looked a good bet for victory.
However, a little research would have told you that Glazkov had to retire from the fight due to a cruciate injury. Whilst Martin’s unbeaten record was built on fighting a succession of journeymen, Joshua had an excellent amateur pedigree and had worked his way up the heavyweight rankings.
Suddenly, Martin’s pedigree doesn’t look so impressive. Something that was backed up by Joshua’s two round destruction of the American.
The morale of the story is to try and look a bit beyond a fighter’s form. Who have they fought and how did it finish.
Boxers come in different shapes and sizes. They also have different styles. Some are knockout specialists, whilst others box tactically and specialise in defence. Knowing about a boxer’s style can help you formulate winning bets. If a fighter has a reputation for a fast start, then betting on an early finish could be prudent. Alternatively, a tactical boxer is more likely to win on points, so look at those markets.
A lot can happen in the build up to a fight. Training camps often lead to minor injuries or other problems. News stories concerning a boxer’s late night partying or personal life can indicate poor preparation. It’s also worth paying attention to press conferences to get an idea of a fighter’s pre match mindset. It all helps build a picture that could impact upon your betting decision.
Sometimes a fighter comes in drastically overweight for a bout, or sometimes they opt for a different policy and come in lighter than for previous fights. Generally, weigh-ins occur 24 hour before a fight.Knowing a boxer’s weight today can really help you find the best boxing odds tomorrow.
Finding the best boxing odds requires research, time and a solid strategy. There are many factors to consider, but the three most important are:
Whilst you will find that some betting sites have consistently better boxing betting odds, there’s no guarantee they will always be the best sites to use. Always use a boxing odds comparison tool to guide you towards the best site.
Whilst you might find better odds a few days before a fight, it’s usually wise to wait until at least the weigh-in has been completed. This will enable you to have a more rounded view of the fight. It also means that you can use boxing odds comparison tools more confidently.
This can vary depending on your location. Always make sure you read reviews and guides before signing up with a bookmaker.
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