Is Boxing The Biggest Gamble Of Them All?
While tonight sees the launch of the new Barry Hearn boxing show, Prizefighters: The Heavyweights, is boxing really a sport which suits gambling? Is there really any form to consider? Or is it all just down to luck?
The sport of boxing has had something of a chequered past to say the least with injuries, rumours of judges being influenced and even referees falling under the spotlight, although there is no doubting that there is a real demand in the gambling industry. A quick look back at the last Ricky Hatton fight with the “Pretty Boy” shows the potential for the betting industry, with literally millions of pounds bet on the “Hitman” to do the business–but sadly it was just beyond him.
Betting on boxing is big business, but even putting aside much of the past controversy, are you really sure you are betting on the right person? Let us not forget that each and every person who gets into a ring has trained both to take and to throw punches. A punch from even the lowest level of boxer would cause serious damage to the person in the street, so while you might have your money on the best fighter and they may be ahead with only 30 seconds left, there is always the chance of a knockout!
Perhaps it is the thrill of placing a few pounds on a rank outsider, in the hope that they can throw a hay maker and knock the favourite down, which attracts so many people. Boxing like football also seems to be the kind of sport where many let their hearts rule their heads, e.g. the Ricky Hatton fight. Hatton was stepping up to a weight division at which he was not totally comfortable, he was fighting the best pound for pound fighter in the world and he was fighting in the US–a long time graveyard for the careers of many UK fighters in the past.
Boxing is a sport, but a sport which can be turned upon its head by one single punch–bang KNOCKOUT!
