Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best Boxing odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual fights, we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sport bet, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What is Boxing?
Boxing is the most commonly used modern term for pugilism, which stems from ancient Latin and Greek words for ‘clenched fist’. The sport involves two individuals throwing punches in a square ring for a set number of rounds, or until one of the boxers is deemed unable to continue by the referee. Most bouts involve 12 three minutes rounds, with the winner decided by a panel of judges should the fight go the distance.
Professional boxing has 17 weight classes, with five different organisations having a belt in each division. The World Boxing Organisation (WBO), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) are the four reputable sporting bodies, with popular magazine The Ring also having a dedicated belt.
There have been many boxers that people suggest are the best of all time over the last century, and each has their own claim to the crown. One of the most dominant fighters currently competing is the Mexican Canelo Alvarez, who holds all five world titles at super middleweight. Tyson Fury is also regarded by many as the pound-for-pound best in the sport, with the Englishman boasting an undefeated 32-0-1 record.
History of Boxing
Boxing is one of those sports that has its roots in ancient times, thus making it difficult to directly pinpoint its history. Stone carvings suggest the earliest forms of boxing were around as long as 5,000 years ago, but the evolution of the sport began accelerating in ancient Greece. An early variation of the sport was included in the ancient Olympic Games (Olympiad) in 688 BC, where fighters would wrap their hands in leather and throw punches until one surrendered. Following this period in history, evidence of boxing largely disappeared until it saw a resurgence in 17th century England.
Bare-knuckle boxing emerged as a popular pastime, and although initially illegal, it rapidly grew in popularity. Fighters were paid for competing and spectators would place bets on the outcome, hence the term prizefighting. This sport was almost unrecognisable from today, and it was common to see athletes wrestling throughout the bout. The 18th century saw plenty of change in the sport, with champion John Broughton creating the first ever set of rules in 1743 in an attempt to gentrify boxing.
It was in 1867 when these laws were finally updated with the Marquess of Queensberry rules, a set of 12 that are largely still in use today. The ruleset made gloves mandatory, banned wrestling and introduced a 10 second count for knocked down opponents. In spite of the formation of a codified set of rules, prizefighting largely remained illegal and stayed underground for most of the late 19th century. As popularity continued to surge and fears of lawlessness grew, boxing was eventually legalised, giving way to what has now become one of the most widely spectated sports around the globe.
Throughout the history of the sport, there has been a constant fusion between politics, social life and boxing. Muhammad Ali is perhaps the best example of the crossover between sport and everyday life. Undoubtedly one of the greatest fighters to step foot in the ring, Ali also became a cultural icon after being arrested for his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. Whilst Ali is perhaps the most significant athlete of all time, the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis and Marvin Hagler could all be considered the best in what is purely a subjective debate.
How do I bet on Boxing?
Here at NetBet, we have a wide variety of markets available for all boxing matches on the sporting calendar. Here are some of the markets you can choose from on our site.
- Winner – Bet on a boxer to win any given fight by any means.
- Fight to go the distance – Place a bet on whether you think the fight will go to a decision or end within 12 rounds.
- Fight outcome – Bet on a boxer to win via a specific method. Eg. Boxer A to win by KO, TKO or DQ.
- Round betting – Bet on which fighter will win and in which round the bout will finish. Eg. Boxer B to win in round 7.
- Round group betting – Choose a group of rounds in which you think a specific fighter will emerge victorious. Eg. Boxer A to win in rounds 1-3.
- Over/Under rounds – Bet on whether or not a fight will go beyond a certain number of rounds.
- Alternate round betting – Bet on a broader time frame in which a fighter will win the bout. Eg. Boxer A to win in 1-6 rounds, Boxer B to win in 7-12 rounds, decision or draw.
However, there are just a few of the boxing markets we offer. Keep an eye on the site in the build up to big events to find more of our fantastic betting options. Occasionally, we might also choose to Boost a price which you can find at our Promotions page.
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
