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Sports Betting: Introduction to Betting in Boxing

Boxing has got to be one of the most ill-reputed sports in the world. You will hardly find shadier characters than in and around the boxing ring. But boxing is also one of the most popular and profitable. A professional gambler or bettor may want to try their luck with it sooner or later. However if you're moving from a sport like tennis or golf to boxing, you may be in for a shock.

As always in sports betting, you must understand the sport you're betting on. Issues such as height and reach advantage, fighting style, location and weight adjustments are factors. But it's not just the "tale of the tape" you need to look at. There are several "off-ring" issues too. Let's look at what some of these issues are.

JUDGES. Unlike other popular betting sports like football, horse-racing and tennis, boxing relies heavily on a jury to decide the outcome of a match. If there's a knockout, there's no doubt as to who won. But often the fight will go the distance, and the winner will have to be decided by the judge's scorecards.

This causes a problem for sports betting as it makes the outcome of a match very unpredictable. Even if Boxer A appears to win the match, the judge may see it differently and score it in favor of Boxer B. Or the judge may have been bribed by Boxer A's promoter, or influenced by a hometown crowd.

PROMOTERS. Promoters are the guys who make boxing happen. They scout for new fighters, build them up and arrange matches that people will pay to watch. As a boxing punter, you need to know the inside scoop and find out what the promoters are up to.

To give an example of how promoters can influence things, let's say you see a new kid with an impress 15-13-0 record. If he is pitted against an experienced yet mediocre pugilist, you might be tempted to bet on the new kid. But that track record can be misleading. The promoter is building up this new young talent, so they may have deliberately picked lousy opponents for him to boost his record.

As another example: Let's say a rising star with Hollywood looks is up against a worthy veteran in a non-title fight. Whoever wins gets to fight the defending champion for the crown. You know in your gut the handsome pugilist is overrated and will likely tire out if it went a full 12 rounds. Right?

But…! What if the fans are looking forward to a match between the rookie and the champ? Then the promoter will have a vested interest in the rookie winning the match. Don't be shocked if the referee calls a suspicious point deduction on the veteran, or if the fight goes the distance and is decided in favor of the rookie.

INSIDE SCOOP. Boxing is dirtier than almost any other sport, and because boxers make so much money, they often get in trouble with promoters, coaches, trainers and various distractions. To illustrate:

A reigning champion may be a favorite to win based on statistics, yet insider stories reveal that there has been a money squabble in his corner and/or a change of trainers. Perhaps he is having trouble making it to the weight limit. Or maybe he is running for Congress and spends little time in the gym.

All these factors can and do affect a boxer's performance, and consequently, your sports betting. So unless you've been following the sport for a long time and know its seamy side very well, don't bet on it.