Boxing Betting Odds

So you've decided to bet on boxing, you visit an online sportsbook, you check out the lines, and then….you feel like giving up the idea because the page is full of weird fractions and/or plus and minus signs.

This is a common scenario among many beginning bettors since people are expected to know what's going on before visiting a sportsbook. But when you're just starting out, understanding boxing betting lines isn't something that comes naturally.

Fortunately, it's not hard to learn the lines as long as you know the different odds that are offered. The three main types of boxing betting odds are moneyline (American), decimal and fractional (British). Below you can see an explanation and example of each type of odds.

Moneyline (American) Odds

The moneyline is used across much of North America, hence its other name, American odds. With the moneyline, you're simply betting on which fighter will win the bout, although odds are attached to even the action on both boxers. Here's a sample moneyline:

Floyd Mayweather  -200
Manny Pacquiao  +180
Draw  +1900

In this fight, Mayweather is the favorite because people would be wagering $200 to win $100 in profit. As for the underdog Pacquiao, bettors would be risking $100 to earn $180 in profit. If somebody bets on the fight being a draw, they'd risk $100 to earn $1,900.

To illustrate a smaller-scale version of the Mayweather/Pacquiao line, let's say that a person wagered $20 on Mayweather to win. They'd now stand to earn $10 in profit if the bet is successful.

Decimal Odds

You're likely to see decimal odds used at many online sportsbooks that are based in Canada, Australia and much of Europe. With decimals odds, 2.0 is considered even money and everything moves up or down from here. Here's a look at a boxing decimal odds sample:

Bernard Hopkins  1.25
Karo Murat  4.20
Draw  24.00

Bernard Hopkins is the overwhelming favorite here since bettors are risking $1 to earn $0.26 in profit ($1.26). People would be wagering $1 on Murat to earn $3.20 in profit ($4.20 total). As for a draw, one would risk $1 to collect $23 in winnings ($24 total).

It's fairly easy to break decimal odds down for larger boxing bets. You just need to multiply how much you want to bet by the desired decimal odds. So if you wanted to risk $10 on Hopkins, your total expected payout would be $12.60 ($10 x $1.26). Likewise, if you wagered $10 on Murat, your total expected payout would equal $42.00 ($10 x $4.20).

Fractional Odds (British Odds)

Sportsbooks that are based in the UK and Ireland like to deal in fractional odds. 1/1 is an even money bet in fractional odds, and the number in front indicates what bettors stand to win while the latter number is what they're risking. Check out a fractional odds example below:

Wladimir Klitschko  3/5
David Haye   3/2
Draw 25/1

Klitschko is the favorite here because people would be betting $5 for every $3 in profit. Haye is the underdog since bettors are wagering $2 for every $3 in profit. In regard to a draw, people would be risking $1 for $25 in winnings.

Once you understand American, fractional and decimal boxing betting odds, you should have no trouble with lines at pretty much any sportsbook. This will cut down on confusion that may arise and allow you to get right to the wagering. From here, the next step will be learning strategy and researching fights to ensure that you have the best possible chance to win money through boxing betting.