Boxing is one of the oldest combat sports in the world, if not the oldest
The first mentions of the sport come from Ancient Egypt. However, historians believe that the martial art has been practiced much further back, before we even had written language.
That being said, six thousand years is still an impressive time for a sport to endure. With a popularity that widespread, it is not surprising that boxing is one of the most popular sports to bet on. With online sportsbooks a lot more popular than ever, we’d like talk a bit about where you need to start, if you are going to bet on boxing.
The Odds
In 2024, betting has largely become a numbers game. All you have to do is understand how the odds work, and determine which fighter is favored. Some people hear numbers and instantly give up. However, in truth, understanding the odds isn’t all that complicated.
There are plenty of online sportsbooks that crunch the numbers and have odd makers come up with a system that is easily understood. For example, Novibet does a great job of presenting odds for all kinds of sports, including boxing. Basically, the job is half-way done.
The Fighters
Once you are done with the odds, you will need to learn more about the fighters. If you are already a huge boxing fan, this part should come easy. You just need to look into the most popular and the most highly-regarded fighters.
Let’s take the YouTube sensation-turned-boxing sensation Jake Paul as an example. Whether you love him, hate him, or think he is a disgrace to boxing, he has certainly managed to draw quite a bit of attention to himself. That means that many bookie swill likely cover his fights, no matter what.
Understanding who the most popular fighters are is a one-way street towards understanding which fights will attract the most bettors. The more popular the fight, the more punters, the more is at stake. So, if you are a low-stake bettor, you should stick to low-scale fights.
Keeping Up with the Sport
Of course, it goes without saying that you must keep up with the sport. Don’t sleep on the latest news or the big-name events. As an example, we should take a look at celebrity/influencer boxing. Again, whatever your thoughts on these events are, they certainly attract huge crowds. If you are interested in betting, you likely should check them out.
If you want to stick to the professional stuff, that is fine as well. However, that still requires a lot of work to keep up with. Check sports magazine that cover boxing at least twice a week to make sure you haven’t missed a big fight, and visit boxing forums to see which fight the fans are most excited about. You won’t regret it.
Closing Thoughts
Boxing will, very likely, remain the most popular combat sport in the near future. Though MMA is certainly hot on its heel, boxing has endured millennia of success. The 20th century boxers, especially, are some of the biggest superstars in the world, so it is unlikely that boxing wagers will stop any time soon.