Boxing Betting at Bally Bet Sports & Casino

One of the oldest combat sports in the world, boxing is the perfect unification of raw power and technical skill. With every punch thrown, round survived and tactical adjustment made, the calculated violence is on show for all, and under the judges’ microscopes. Global events span multiple weight classes and fighting styles, and deliver fight night drama alongside career-long narratives.

Because of its technical nature, there are far more markets available for a boxing match than simply who you think will be the winner. Round betting, method of victory betting – these are just a few of the many options you can choose from at Bally Bet. And if you’re new to boxing, you can use this guide to get a handle on the basics so that you can start to get an understanding of the sport’s depth.

Already know your way around the ring? Check out the comprehensive boxing markets we offer for all major fights and championship bouts on the calendar. We have something for everyone, be they casual fan or ringside regular.

How Boxing Works – A Quick Guide

There are a few characteristics of boxing that make it a great sport for certain markets. Explained below are the basics of how the sport works, what markets are available and why the former can affect the latter.

Structure of a Fight

Professional fights are usually made up of three-minute rounds, with a one-minute rest period in between. Championship bouts are scheduled for 12 rounds, while non-title fights can range from four to 10 rounds, depending on the experience of the fighter and promotion level.

Ways of Winning a Boxing Match

There are several ways for the fight to end:

Knockout (KO): a fighter gets knocked down and cannot get back up inside the referee’s count to 10 (not necessarily 10 seconds).

Technical Knockout (TKO): a referee steps in to stop the fight when a boxer can no longer defend themselves, or if their corner throws in the towel.

Decision: when the fighters complete all planned rounds, the judges score each and whoever has the highest total wins. There are three ways this can go: unanimous, with all three judges agreeing; split, with two judges preferring one fighter over the other; or majority, where two judges choose one fighter, but the third marks it as a draw.

Draw: a possible outcome of a fight, where the judges decide that it was even. This outcome can be decided in the same three ways mentioned before.

Disqualification (DQ): should a fighter violate the rules, they’ll be disqualified by the referee.

No contest: this is when the fight gets stopped because of something outside either fighter’s control, like an accidental foul causing an injury preventing a fighter from carrying on.

How the Scoring System Works in Boxing

Boxing matches employ a ‘10-point must system’, which is where, for each round, a judge must award points out of possible 10 to each fighter. The winner of the round receives all 10 points, and the loser typically gets nine, though fights where a knockdown occurs can end up 10-8. These scores reflect, among other aspects, the quality of punches a boxer throws as well as their defensive prowess, aggressiveness and tactical awareness.

Weight Classes

There are 17 major weight divisions in boxing, ranging from mini-flyweight (47 kg) to heavyweight (90.7+ kg). Fighters compete against others in their division, but many move up or down a class if they’re looking for a new challenge or perceive an advantage in doing so.

Boxing Terms Worth Knowing

Southpaw

A term that refers to a left-handed fighter who leads with their right hand and right foot. The stance a right-handed fighter adopts – left hand and foot forwards - is known as ‘orthodox’.

Southpaws can create awkward matchups when facing orthodox fighters who aren’t familiar with the angles the differences in stance can create.

Reach

A boxer’s total arm span, measured – in inches – by outstretching both arms and marking the distance from one hand’s middle fingertip to the other. A longer reach typically allows a fighter to control the distance between their opponents, and land punches while staying outside their range.

Ring Generalship

The term used to describe when a boxer is able to set the pace and flow of a fight to suit them, dictating when there’s an exchange (and what sort) and forcing their opponent into awkward situations.

CompuBox

A system that records punches thrown and landed throughout the fight. The judges won’t see the numbers the CompuBox logs – they’re more concerned about things like the fighters’ quality of punches and defensive capabilities – but it helps keep the data accurate.

Corner

The boxer’s support team who, during breaks, provide tactical advice and tend to any wounds, and, if needed, throw in the towel to stop the fight if their boxer is taking too much damage.

On the Cards

A card is the list of matches scheduled to take place, but ‘on the cards’ refers to a fight that hasn’t been decided by knockout or TKO and will instead be settled by the judges’ scorecards.

Styles Make Fights

A phrase used to describe the idea that a certain fighting style can counter another.

As an example, a pressure boxer – someone who aggressively pushes forwards in an attempt to control the fight’s tempo – might not find much joy against an opponent who moves well around the ring and can time counterpunches well.

Popular Boxing Betting Markets

Bout Odds

The most straightforward market, here you’re just betting on which boxer you think will win the fight.

Method of Victory

Decide how you think the fight will end, whether it's with a KO, TKO, DQ or draw. There’s also the option to bet on a certain boxer winning by decision.

Round Betting

Choose which round – from those listed – you think will be when the fight ends. You’ll need a good idea of the two boxers’ forms, styles and strengths and weaknesses for this type of market.

Round Groups

Similar to round betting, but offering a bit more flexibility, group-of-rounds markets ask you to decide, from a range of rounds like 1-2 or 3-4, when you think the fight ends. Our markets go up to groups of four rounds, meaning you could bet on a boxer winning anywhere between rounds 1 to 4.

In both round betting and round group betting, there’s a market on the fight going the distance, too.

Total Rounds

As an over/under market, here you bet on whether you think the bout will fall short of or exceed a set number of rounds.

To Go the Distance

Do the boxers seem evenly matched to you? If so, this market might be one worth keeping an eye on. With it, you’re simply betting on the fight completing all scheduled rounds.

Major Boxing Events

You only need a quick glance at the boxing calendar to see just how busy it is. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, but it’s worth knowing what the different sorts of events are.

Undisputed Championship Fights

Events that unify the four major boxing organisations – the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO – and offer a rare bout that represents the peak of a certain weight division. A boxer who possesses all four organisations’ belts at the same time is known as an ‘undisputed champion’, and recent examples include Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue.

Heavyweight Title Fight

Drawing attention from across the globe and featuring some of the biggest names in boxing, heavyweight title fights can be wildly unpredictable, making for a dramatic viewing experience and interesting market movements.

Rivalry Rematches

Like Joshua vs. Ruiz II or Fury vs. Wilder II and III, some fights demand sequels. The narratives that accompany these rematches create the hype, and any changes to new tactics or approaches for the upcoming bout are eagerly tracked.

Prospect Debuts

Here’s where rising stars face their first real test. When there’s a newcomer facing off against an established opponent, it’s worth checking the markets to see what the books make of the hype.

What Can Affect Fight Outcomes?

There are other aspects beyond the skill of the boxers involved that can help decide fights. Mileage may vary here, but for added context before a bout, consider:

Fighting Styles

As we touched on earlier, the expression “styles make fights” rings true, and when two styles face off against each other, one can have a particular advantage over the other.

A brawler – someone who relies on landing heavy hits – might struggle against an opponent who's light on their feet and can evade their punches. An oft-cited example of this matchup is Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle match of 1974.

Before you place a bet, it’s a good idea to know the styles of the boxers involved and look out for any possible mismatches. That way, you get context that goes beyond recent form and rankings.

Physical Attributes

Characteristics like the boxer’s height, reach and frame are important. A fighter with a significant reach advantage over their opponent can more easily control the distance and land punches while staying safe themselves.

A boxer’s weight class is also a considerable factor. Moving up a weight class means facing bigger, stronger opponents, but on the other hand, moving down poses a risk of dehydration and diminished power.

Age and Mileage

Boxers tend to hit their physical primes between their mid-20s and mid-30s. Although some fighters in their late 30s can, with meticulous conditioning, compete, it’s around the mid-30s that reflexes and recovery rates have started to slow down.

And while young prospects might have all the energy in the world, they lack the experience that those in the mid-20-30 range should have under their belt.

Level of Activity

The phrase ‘ring rust’ is common in boxing, and it describes the phenomenon that boxers experience when they haven’t stepped into the ring for a while.

A boxer returning after a long break can struggle initially – timing and reactions, instincts and conditioning can all take a hit – especially against an active opponent that’s maintained their sharpness all year round.

Quality of the Training Camp

The boxer’s trainers are a vital part of their success, and those at the top of their game will have airtight game plans, ability to fix any technical issues their fighter is facing and make important decisions from the corner during the fight. If a rift forms or the camp gets disrupted somehow, it’ll likely show in the performances.

Chin (Punch Resistance)

Iron chins and glass jaws. Two terms to describe a boxer who can absorb punishment and one who cannot, respectively.

It’s important to know how many knockout losses a boxer has registered – seeing a few could indicate a vulnerability. Equally, consistent knockdowns in recent events can imply a chin that’s getting weaker, which isn’t something immediately apparent in the boxer’s training.

How In-Play Betting Works in Boxing

With a round-by-round structure, boxing provides multiple opportunities to bet in real time.

You’ll see odds adjust following each round, based on things like how much damage the fighters have taken and how many punches they’ve thrown, and the breaks in between rounds offer a natural window in which to assess your options and plan for the remainder of the bout.

During the early stages of the fight, you’ll also get an idea of the dynamics between the two fighters. If a pressure fighter is having their punches nullified, the odds should shift to reflect that.

There are 12 rounds in championship fights, and fighters who can keep momentum throughout can have their odds shortened if their opponent looks as though they’re tiring. Keep an eye on diminishing punch speed, footwork getting more sluggish and changes to breathing patterns for an idea of how a fighter is managing their fatigue.

If a fighter suffers a heavy blow, pay attention. Bad cuts across the face that cause the fighter to bleed heavily can increase the chances of a stoppage, which will be factored into the new set of odds.

How to Bet on Boxing with Bally Bet

Want to place a bet on a fight here? You can get involved by following these straightforward steps:

1. Head to the Boxing section on-site and check out the upcoming fights we’ve got listed

2. Choose your market(s) – we add more options the closer we get to the match

3. Add the selections to your bet slip and enter your stake

4. Confirm and place your bet

Our pre-fight markets are available a few days in advance, and in-play markets, as you’d expect, open once the fight starts.

Betting Responsibly

There’s a lot of buzz around major fights, and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. Here’s what to do to make sure you’re always in control when playing with us.

Only play with what you can afford to lose

Set budgets based on what you’re comfortable losing. This should help you avoid chasing losses if a fight doesn’t go your way, or getting carried away and betting more because of pre-fight excitement.

Know what it is you're betting on

We’ve covered quite a lot of ground in this guide, so you should have a solid idea of what you’re looking for when you’re checking out boxing betting markets. With that said, we’ve largely discussed the basics, and boxing can be quite nuanced.

If you’re not familiar with the way judges scores rounds or exactly what it is that makes a good matchup, recognise the gaps in your knowledge and avoid betting on aspects you don’t fully understand.

Use available RG tools

We have tools that help you set financial limits as well as take breaks from your account.

Visit our Responsible Gambling page to see exactly what tools are available and how we can help.

Enjoy the fight for what it is

Boxing at a professional level is a spectacle whether you decide to place a bet or not, and fighters competing at the peak of their careers is pure entertainment.

Keep that perspective front and centre to make sure you’re enjoying the event for the right reasons.