Best Irish Boxing Betting Sites – Bet on Boxing 2023

Here is a rundown of everything you need to know about boxing betting sites, particularly for the Irish market.

How to bet on boxing

Boxing is a physical, combat sport where two fighters fight using their fists. Fighters compete to win the most rounds, or to win by defeating their opponent to where they can no longer continue.

 The boxing match win is decided by points or if they knock out their opponents. Matches are dictated by 3 judges outside the right who will pick the winner.

Reviews of the Best Irish Boxing Bookmakers

Wondering which betting site to take your money to? Here are some short reviews of betting sites and how well they are when it comes to betting on boxing.

Novibet

Novibet launched in 2006, a fairly newer betting site but still have all the features you’d like to see. They also have a good mobile presence; in case you prefer to do your boxing betting on the go. If you’re a new customer you’ll be happy to know Novibet offer free bet promotions alongside a sign up bonus.

Pros	Cons
Cash out In play betting Live streaming	Promotional offers are good but not as often as other betting sites Pay out methods not as varied as with other bookies

888 sport

888Sport offers some handy features to help elevate the betting experience. For instance, they have a bet builder so you can tailor your bets towards what you feel more confident in. They also offer acca insurance to provide reinsurance when placing multiple bets to avoid major loses.

When it comes to betting on boxing online, they have strong betting odds alongside regular price boosts to help create bigger pay outs. They also have many on going promotions to engage with too. Boxing fans will also be pleased to know they offer boxing news, opinion, and tips on their site to help with decision making and keeping you informed on recent news. This is a helpful extra resource and saves you time researching yourself.

888Sport is also known for having a good mobile betting experience. So if you want to bet on boxing on the go, look at 888sport mobile app.

Pros	Cons
Live streaming for live boxing betting Bet builder Large number of betting options Cash out Acca insurance	Customer service sometimes slow

BetVictor

Founded in 1946, BetVictor has been around for a long time with boxing being one of their most bet on sports by customers. They provide an appealing welcome offer because you only need to bet a small amount (€5) to get a large number of free bets (€30). Notably, some would say there promotions are quite broad, and seeing some specific betting offers would be appealing to boxing fans.

They are also praised for their in play boxing, as it is smooth and there is no delay when placing bets. So you can have the advantage of placing quick bets while mid action.

Pros	Cons
Good boxing odds and dediated betting section Virtual sports Free bets	No instant cash withdraws Lack of specific boxing offers

 Unibet

Unibet have quickly become one of the biggest betting sites and with this comes a good reputation and wide markets available. They offer live streaming of smaller boxing events which can be hard to find when it comes to boxing betting sites.  Alongside their live streaming, they offer good in play boxing betting so you can watch and bet on the fight as it is happening.

Pros	Cons
Live streaming Good odds Dedicated boxing promotions	Cash out feature sometimes unreliable Customer service could be better

 Professional vs amateur boxing

 Boxing often falls into too categories, either amateur boxing or professional. As the names suggest, amateur boxing is for those less experienced for the sport compared to the professional matches. Here is a table to showcase the main differences between them;

Amateur boxing	Professional boxing
Score basedBeginner boxers Gear includes headgear, gloves, mouthguard. 2-3 rounds Judges by hits landed and can be computer counted	Experienced boxers Gear includes mouthguard and gloves 4-12 rounds Judged by a 10 point system

While amateur boxing matches tend to be for those less experienced, it is worth noting some amateur events often include skilled boxers. For example, it may come as a surprise that the Olympics is classed as an amateur event.

10 point system

Professional boxing matches are judged on the 10 point system. this means who wins the most rounds. Unless there is a win by a knockout. 

 Boxing decisions

 Decisions are the outcomes the judges come to at the end of a match. The three types of decisions are the following;

• Unanimous decision: all three judges agree on the winner. This usually means one fighter dominated.
• Majority decision: two judges agree while the third thinks it is a draw, the fighter with the two votes wins.
• Split decision: this is when two judges agree on the winner but the third opposes, still the fighter with the two votes wins.

 Types of knockouts

 Knockouts happen when the opposing player cannot continue the match. There are two main types of knockouts in boxing.

• Knockout (KO): this is when the fighter knocks their opponent unconscious and cannot continue. The player who stands wins.
• Technical knockout (TKO): when the referee decisions one fighter is no longer fit to continue even if they are not knocked unconscious. The fighter deemed unable to continue loses the fight.

Types of draws

A draw is rewarded when the judges think the fight was an even contest, this is when neither fighter had the upper advantage over the other. There are typically four main draw types in boxing;

• Split draw: each judge decided differently.
• Majority draw: two judges decide it is a draw but the third opposes, the fight is ruled as a draw.
• Unanimous draw: all three judges agree to the draw.
• Technical draw: when the judges cannot pick a winner after a headbutt.

Technicalities

Technicalities are types of specific situations that end the match in untypical ways. The three types are;

• Disqualification: ended due to repeated defiances either one or both fighters. The fight will be deemed no contest with no winner.
• Submission: when one fighter surrenders to the other.
• Referee technical decision: one fighter or their corner team opts to the end the fight in the middle of the round. So the opposing fighter gets the win.

Rules

Due to the physical brutality of the sport there are a few rules.

1. Fighters account hit below the belt, trip, hold, kick, headbutt, bite, push or spit at their opponent.
2. Fighters cannot use their head, forearm or elbows to inflict damage.
3. Fighters must only hit with closed fist punches.
4. Fighters may not punch opponent in the back, back of the head, neck or kidneys.
5. Fighters cannot use the ring ropes to their advantage.
6. Fighters must listen to what the in-ring referee instructs
7. Fighters cannot hit their opponent once they have been knocked down.
8. When a fighter is ‘floored’ they have 10 seconds to get back up to avoid losing by knock out
9. Boxers who receive an accidental low blow have a specific amount of time to recover, but if they are unable to recover, they become disqualified
10. All rounds are scored by the three judges.

Is a fighters break these rules it can impact their success. It could lead to a warning, reduce in points or even disqualification.

Weight classes

It is worth noting that fighters fall into a specific weight class. This ranges from minimum weight to lightweight to heavy weight with different subcategories in between. Depending on a fighter’s weight, depends who they can fight and what division they can fight in.

Boxing free bets

Free bets are typically offered to new customers and are a chance to get some free money to place a bet on. You normally have to place a small deposit beforehand in order to receive the free bet.

Free bets may also appear when a major boxing event is on. This is due to popularity around the sport making it appealing to bookies, but it is recommended to check the terms and conditions before participating.

How do I claim my free bet? The usual process is by registration and placing a deposit, but here is a quick step by step guide;

1. Search free bet offers.
2. Sign up and register.
3. Place a deposit, the amount needed to activate the free bet offer.
4. Place the deposit on a valid market.
5. Wait for the bet to settle.
6. Access the free bet money.

Although, in some instances the free bets may be available to existing customers and in different circumstances. Nonetheless, the bookmarker will make it clear on how much to bet or what to bet on to retrieve the free bets. Sometimes free bets may be available if you place a bet on a certain fighter, in this case you may need to enter a promo code to retrieve your free bet.

Here is a table of some betting sites and the free bet offer they provide.

Betting site	The offer	Who is eligible
Paddy Power	Get up to €30 free bets in cash if your first bet loses	New customers
Sky bets	Get €20 free bets when you sign up and bet €5	New customers
BetVictor	Bet €5 and get €30 to spend	New customers
Bet UK	Bet €10 and get €30 free bets	New customers
Bet365	Bet 10 and get €30 in free bets	New customers
Coral	Bet €5 and get €20 free bets	New customers
Mr play sport	Bet €10 and get €15 free bets	New customers
New Bet	Bet €10 and get €10 in free bets	New customers
888Sport	Bet €10 and get €30 free bets	New customers
Betway sports	€30 matches free bet if your first acca bet loses	Existing customers

Boxing bet types and boxing betting markets

Here are the range of boxing markets available with their explanation.

Bet type	Explanation
Outright winner	The simplest boxing bet is agreeable the outright bet, where you place a bet on who you think will win the match.
Method of win	The method wins but is betting how one will win the match. Whether it is a technical knockout, straight knockout, or disqualification.
Round betting	Round betting is placing a bet on how who win a specific round. This is good if you don’t feel confident in placing an outright bet. Markets usually offer this bet in terms of who will win the first three rounds or round 4-6 etc.
Over / under rounds	Over/ under bets is where you predict if the boxing match will end before or after a specific number of rounds. For example, if you think the match will go over round 6 you can place a bet on it.
Round group bets	Similar to the over/under rounds bets, round group bets are where you place a bet on a group of rounds. Rounds are usually grouped like 1-4, 4-8 and 9-12.
Prop based bets	Common props are often more riskier bets but carrier the higher pay out.  Common types of props include betting on the exact minute the match will end, or the total number of punches landed by a fighter.
In round betting	These are bets you can place once the round has begun, these are mostly found on online bookies. The type of things you can bet on often depends on the bookie itself, but if they offer live action this is likely be an available market. If you find yourself being someone who is good as feeling the tone and feel of the fight, this might be a good one for you.  But these types of bets often have be placed quickly.
Gone is 60 seconds	Not every bookie offers this, but a gone is 60 seconds bet also takes place live and in play. This is where you predict if you think the will end in the next 60 seconds.

Accumulator bets

If you’re looking for a higher pay out, placing multiple bets at once could be the way to go. This includes placing multiple bets on the same betting slip and to win, all these bets must be successful. If one bet loses, all the bets on the slip loose.

Some betting sites do offer acca insurance to provide some security and prevent big loses. This is where if you place an accumulator bet and it loses, you will not lose all your money and it will be refunded instead.

How to pick and rank boxing betting sites

Want to know what to look for in a boxing betting site? Below are some questions to ask yourself before choosing a betting site.

• Does the betting site offer free bets?

Free bets are a great way to place bets with the security of not losing loads of money. Free bets may be a good opportunity to trial some of the betting sites you are interested in before placing any bigger bets yourself. If you are looking to sign up, see if they offer a good welcome offer or free bet.

• How good are the boxing betting odds?

Finding a sportsbook with high odds for boxing is important if you want a higher pay out. Consider how high the odds are on the betting site and how they compare to the latest boxing odds elsewhere. Some of the current best betting sites for boxing odds are 888sport, Ladbrokes, Betfair, Paddy Power and BetVictor.

• Does the betting site cover many events?

Due to boxing being a rather popular sport, you will find that many sportsbooks have markets for it. However, it is good finding a getting site which offers a variety so you can have a good choice of markets. Betting sites such as bet365, William Hill, Coral, Paddy Power and 888sport all cover a range of events for boxing.

• Does the betting site offer in-play betting?

In-play boxing betting is a very appealing feature when it comes to betting, as it lets you bet on the match while the action is taking place. This may increase the fun but also your confidence in placing bets. Betting site William Hill is renowned for having particular good in play betting on boxing matches as well as offering special offers for in play betting.

• What are the promotions like?

Promotions keep betting fun and exciting, but it can help you earn a bit more money too. Considering how good a betting sites offer, and promotions are, especially in relation to boxing is a good thing to consider. It is also worth thinking about how often these promotions arise, sometimes they only be available for big events.

Strategies for betting on boxing

Want to improve your boxing betting strategies?  Use these tips as a handy checklist next time you find yourself about to place a boxing bet.

• Do your homework

As always, it is good practise to be up to date and clued up on the sport and the fighters. A good start is to research the fighter you are thinking of placing a bet on, whether this be researching their previous fight performance or what they have to lose. Another good thing to research is what types of wins the fighter has had, for instance, have most of them been knockout wins? All these details will help you place a well informed bet.

• Do not bet on emotion

When it comes to a sport like boxing, it is easy to get involved and emphasise with a specific fighter. You may feel inclined to bet on your favourite player, however, it is far smarter to bet on a player because of research and evidence than emotions.

• Consider where the match is taking place

Is the match taking place in one fighter’s home town? This might impact a fighters performance, particularly as some fighters may not perform as good outside their home country. Similarly, what are the crowd like in the arena and who do they seem to be more in favour off, as this may influence their performance too.

• Know the boxing terminology

Like with any sport, boxing comes with its own lingo and terms used. Whether this be the type of knockout or what the outcome of the match was, learning these terms will increase your confidence with the sport. Lucky for you, this article covers the main terms you should know before placing a bet. So, learning the ones we discuss earlier is a good place to start.

• Consider what the fighter is like as a person

It is important to consider what kind of person the fighter is. For example, are they type of person to be easily distracted from their fight day preparation. If so they may not be on their best form inside the ring either. How busy is the fighter or how well known are they? Anything that could impact how they prepared for the fight may influence how they perform on fight day and thus is a good thing to bare in mind.

An FAQ on boxing betting