Boxing is one of the oldest forms of pugilistic contests in the world and is found in various forms throughout the world. For many, boxing is more than just a sport. Boxing is a science, a test of will and endurance, and a chance for ultimate glory. No wonder its appeal is magnetic and draws the viewer in until the final blow.
Boxing is often considered to be the more elegant and strategic of the martial arts sports, whereas the comparatively modern MMA variants tend to be more violent and explosive. This stark contrast between the two can also be seen in how long the fights last. Boxing bouts are usually 12 rounds (a key decision made after the Mancini/Kim fight), with each round lasting 3 minutes. By contrast, most MMA fights are scheduled for 3–5 rounds, each lasting 5 minutes with a 1-minute rest between each round.
That said, boxing and MMA enjoy a large crossover following, with fans enjoying a good wager on many major boxing promotions, while putting money on their fighter to win in virtually any of the MMA disciplines available at Betsafe. If you're new to the world of boxing, this easy bet on boxing primer will get you started in what many consider to be a rewarding and exciting sport to put money on. If you're already familiar with the odds MMA has to offer, you'll have no trouble adapting to betting on boxing odds since they follow very similar markets.
New Boxing Rules
There are several new rules that have taken centre stage in the boxing world that will change the dynamics of the sport, including:
- World Boxing introduced a global elite-only ranking system from Paris 2024 results, with a rolling 3-year points table and clear seeding usage and point decay at majors.
- In November 2024, a new medal-ceremony conduct and prize-money framework was approved for the World Boxing Competition Rules. Explicit approval and transfer timelines are permitted for prize money, and medal ceremonies will be free from any statements, flags, or headgear.
- From 1 January 2025, the former 12+12 format will be replaced by standardised 10 weight classes for elite men and women, which will align the boxers and keep events manageable. However, Olympic programs will still retain the seven selections per gender.
- The federation approved a refined judging criterion that will be adopted to emphasise the quantity of scoring blows and quantity of close calls. The technical or tactical superiority will follow, and if needed, competitiveness will be considered.
- The R&J evaluator's role, which was a separate referee and judge observer role, was removed.
Interesting Boxing Bout Results
There are fights that made headlines in the sport, from the collision of rivals to bouts with totally different boxing personalities. Arguably the most prominent of them all, nicknamed 'The Fight of the Century' on 8 March 1971, was a clash between these two undefeated heavyweights, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, that went the full 15 rounds, and the latter won by unanimous decision.
On 30 October 1974, 'The Rumble in the Jungle' was a bout between the underdog Muhammad Ali and the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman, who was defeated by a thunderous knockout in the 8th round.
Nicknamed 'The Ear Bite,' a rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield on 28 June 1997 was an aggressive fight. After his quick assault was managed by his opponent, Iron Mike bit Holyfield's ear twice, which disqualified him from the fight.
'The War' between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns on 15 April 1985 was a brief but brutal duel. The bout was of unmatched intensity, and with his power and technique, he overcame and subdued Hearns' speed and reach, knocking him out in the 3rd round.
How to Bet on Boxing
For the most part, odds for boxing are not all that different from those of other sports you'll find here at Betsafe. However, unlike team sports like football, basketball, baseball, or ice hockey, boxing is all about betting on the individual athlete. This factor will affect how some of the bet boxing markets work, which will be explained a little further down.
The dynamics of one-on-one contests can be extremely enthralling and intense, particularly when you've put real money down on your favourite to win. Another interesting aspect that is affected by this intimate kind of format is how the odds in boxing can be influenced by it. You'll often find that boxing odds tend to fall towards the higher end of the spectrum. This is especially true when the bout involves big names in boxing. In fact, the bigger the personality of the boxers and the livelier the pre-fight action is, the higher the odds tend to be, come fight night.
A noticeable disparity between odds on the favourite and the underdog is also fairly common, particularly if the matchup is perceived to be unbalanced. Boxing is also well known for surprise outcomes, and there have been plenty of historic upsets over the years.
Boxing Pre-match and Live Betting
While some sports tend to lend themselves more towards pre-match betting, and others towards live betting, boxing manages to satisfy in both areas equally well. The same can be said for our MMA and UFC fixtures as well. The main reason for this is that fight sports rely heavily on extensive build-up phases before the actual fight night occurs. Fight promoters spend a great deal of their time ramping up excitement levels in fans, which will eventually be converted into ticket sales, pay-per-view sales, and, of course, fantastic odds boxing.
Betsafe features plenty of pre-match betting coverage leading up to the actual event, and punters can take their pick from a range of interesting and lucrative boxing betting markets. This coverage flows seamlessly into the live or in-play platform, where markets can change rapidly depending on how events unfold. As we mentioned earlier, boxing can be extremely unpredictable, and, in most instances, anyone can win on the night.
What makes Betsafe the ultimate betting home of boxing is instant access to all of the dynamic markets and odds boxing can offer. Also, fans can keep up with every second of the fight thanks to our live-streaming coverage, which is also available via our mobile apps. Our cutting-edge apps leave nothing to chance and offer a full range of must-have betting services, including early cashout options, safe mobile banking, and access to 24/7 mobile support. Betsafe mobile apps are available for Android and iOS users and will work on most smartphones and tablet devices.
How to Get Started Betting on Boxing at Betsafe
If boxing odds and exploring various exciting boxing markets have piqued your interest, you'll be pleased to know that getting started with Betsafe boxing betting is quick and easy. If you're not a Betsafe member yet, simply follow these simple steps:
- Click on the green Create an Account button at the top right of any Betsafe page.
- Fill in all required fields, including email address, mobile number, and physical address.
- Set your deposit limits and select your preferred payment option.
- Make your first deposit and make your qualifying bet to receive your Betsafe free bet welcome bonus.
- Click on the sportsbook tab and then click on the boxing tab to open today's boxing events.
- Click on any odds boxing you like to automatically add them to your bet slip. Betsafe offers several betting options as well as a convenient cash-out feature.
Popular Bet Boxing Markets
Boxing is a dynamic, exciting, and unpredictable sport. Anything can happen on fight night. The bout can go the full distance; the favourite could win on points; the underdog could surprise the boxing world with an unexpected knockout; or the fight could end within 30 seconds in the first round. You never know, and that's why markets and odds in boxing offer plenty of flexibility to suit any eventuality.
- Over/Under Bet: This market can be found in many popular sports at Betsafe. However, an Over/Under bet in boxing works a little differently. Instead of betting on one of the boxers, you're betting on the number of rounds. A line is posted, say 6.5, and you can bet that the fight will end in under 6 rounds (Under) or that the fight will go longer than 6 rounds (Over).
- Outright Winner: Probably the easiest bet you can make in boxing. Here, you're simply betting on who you think will win the fight outright. Forget about the number of rounds or how the fighter wins the fight; just think about who will win the fight.
- Outcome of Fight: Here, you're betting on how the fight will end. You can bet the winner will win via a TKO (technical knockout), a KO, a disqualification (DQ), or it will go the full distance and end on a points decision.
- Proposition (Prop) Bet: In actuality, an outcome bet falls within the group of prop bets. These bets are very interesting and allow you to bet on all sorts of specifics, like what round the fight will end in, who will do what in what round, how the points will be awarded, and much more.
- Round Bets: Here, you're betting on a particular boxer winning the fight in a particular round. This can be the favourite to win or the underdog, say in the fourth round, for example.
- Group Round Bets: This is similar to round bets but slightly easier, as you only need to bet on a group of rounds. In other words, you're betting that your boxer will win early within the first four rounds. Likewise, you could bet that the fighter wins towards the end, in which case you can bet on a group of 9–12, for example.
Prominent Boxing Titles
- Lineal Champion: The boxer who beats the champion becomes the lineal champion.
- Unified Champion: A boxer that holds two or more of the major sanctioning titles, including the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF.
- Undisputed Champion: A boxer who holds all four major championship belts (IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC).
- IBF: The International Boxing Federation was officially formed in April 1977. Originally aligned with the United States Boxing Association until 1983.
- WBA: World Boxing Association, the oldest of the four major sanctioning bodies, was formed in 1962. Consists of two championships, the regular and the super title.
- WBC: The World Boxing Council was formed in 1963. The WBC is considered by many to be the most prestigious heavyweight belt in boxing.
- WBO: World Boxing Organisation 1988. The youngest of the four major sanctioning bodies.
Why Bet on Boxing at Betsafe?
Are you looking to place bets on boxing matches? If so, Betsafe Sportsbook is the perfect location for you. We offer extensive coverage, expert analysis, and competitive boxing odds, allowing you to enjoy every punch in real-time. When fighters lace up their gloves, there is no room for excuses, and when you bet at Betsafe, we offer no excuses that will get in the way of you having a great boxing betting experience.
With the sport's widespread influence and international appeal, boxing ranks as one of the most beloved sports to bet on. Betsafe offers stellar odds and expert guidance for all significant events you wish to gamble on in this sport. We also cover boxing events across the globe, so you can rest assured that there will always be an event to bet on. We also offer additional sports to wager on, and in addition to boxing, you can bet on UFC.
We have 24/7 customer support for any of your concerns or queries. Sign up with Betsafe today to make the most of your betting experience!
