Boxing Betting Rules

As a good rule of thumb, one should always know the “rules” surrounding their said bets. Odd happenings and disputes can and will happen over time, so the sportsbooks have posted rules in case an issue arises so they can have a clear cut defintion of how to grade wagers on fights where abnormal circumstances may happen. While every sportsbook has their own set of rules and regulations on betting fights, we have posted a set of rules that is more or less “the general consensus” amongst most online sportsbooks. Enjoy!

1. If a boxing match is ruled a No Contest or No Decision, all bets will be returned.

2. Boxing matches must take place within a certain time of the scheduled date for the bet to be considered action. Many online casinos will consider a bout that happens more than 7 days after the scheduled date as no action, while other casinos will have a larger window upwards of 30 days.

3. If you bet on a boxer to win and the fight is a draw, you will have your bet returned only if a draw was not an available betting option. However, if there is a draw wager available, all other bets are losers in the event of a draw.

4. If a fighter does not come out for the beginning of a round, the bout is considered having ended at the end of the previous round.

5. Betting on a fighter to win by knockout means he can win by KO, TKO, or disqualification.

6. When betting the number of rounds, the halfway point of round is 1:30, and 1:00 for womens matches.

7. If the over-under for a fight is 8.5, for example, the fight is considered over halfway through the ninth round.

8. Changes made to the details of a fight after it opens for betting will often result in no action. Some online sportsbooks, however, will not allow you to change which side you bet on if the number of scheduled rounds is changed. In addition, if one fighter fails to make weight and changes the implications of a bout, for example, from a title bout to a non-title bout, the bet stands.

9. Results are decided in the ring on the date of the fight. In other words, any changes made to the result of a fight due to a failed drug test, a successful appeal, an incorrect scoring procedure, etc. will have no bearing. The decision rendered at the conclusion of a fight is binding. Alsoyou have no recourse if you come out on the short end of a controversial result, regardless of how overt the incompetence or corruption of the officials was.

10. If you bet on a fighter to win a decision, that bet is a winner whether the decision is announced at the end of the scheduled distance of a fight or if a fight is ended prematurely and goes to the scorecards. If you bet on a fighter to win on points, the bout must last for the full scheduled duration of a fight to be graded a winner.

11. A bet on a draw will be honored if the draw is announced after the scheduled duration of the fight or if the result is a technical draw due to the fight being stopped prematurely.

12. For betting purposes, all boxing matches become official when the bell begins the first round.

Other Considerations

1. If concerned about your money being held up for too long in the event of a cancellation, check the policies of your individual online sportsbooks. Some wait as long as 30 days even when the great preponderance of cancelled fights do not get rescheduled within such a short time. One way to avoid this problem is to wait until the fight is in the very near future before wagering, as it is less likely for fights to be cancelled or postponed a few days before fight night.

2. Boxing odds change constantly. With the majority of money being wagered closer to the fight date, this is when the most drastic line changes will occur. With important fights, the fighter who is more popular and who has the larger following will often receive more late-betting support, therefore making his odds less desirable to bet on. For example, those inclined to bet against Ricky Hatton would be advised to wait until after thousands of Ricky Hatton fans pour into Las Vegas and drive the price up, while Hatton backers might be inclined to get an early jump on the line.

3. Most boxing betting sites are good with grading boxing bets, but some more obscure and less-wagered-upon bouts sometimes take more time to be graded. A little kind coaxing of the customer service department usually does the trick.

There is often less consensus in the world of boxing betting, especially with less-celebrated bouts. Shopping for a good line when wagering on boxing matches is highly advisable, and having multiple accounts spread out over a few or more online sportsbooks can give you a good edge in overall betting value when wagering on boxing matches.