Boxing Betting Tips: Examining the Prop Bet Market

Kelsey McCarson

September 10th, 2018

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Propositional-based bets, or props (sometimes called exotics or specials), come in a wide variety of options. These types of bets typically include good entertainment value on myriad topics.

Placing prop bets can be a fun way for boxing betting fans to get imaginative in their betting strategy, because there’s almost always something interesting or noteworthy to find and consider placing a wager on--even if it’s just for a laugh.

Prop Betting in Boxing

Prop bets come in all shapes and sizes. They can include just about anything a bookmaker decides to offer options over, and the number and kinds of prop bets vary greatly.

In boxing, the largest number of prop bets offered by the top bookmakers are almost always reserved for the types of mega events that only come around once or twice a year.

Prop bets can include betting on what color robes the fighters wear, which fighter will throw the first punch or even who will come to the ring with a fighter during the walkout.

Examples of Boxing Prop Bets

When Floyd Mayweather fought Conor McGregor in 2017, bookmakers offered a slew of betting opportunities to attract the general public.

Mayweather-McGregor is a great example of the wide range of opportunities available on the prop-based market, especially for the biggest fights. Here are several examples of the types of bets one could make on the prop bet market for that fight:

Will either fighter win within the first 60 seconds?

• Mayweather +1800
• McGregor +200
• Neither -33000

Will Floyd Mayweather get knocked down or out?

• Yes +200
• No -300

Will Mayweather wear a ‘TMT’ hat during his walkout?

• Yes -400
• No +250

Will Justin Bieber wear a hat during the walkout?

• Yes -170
• No +140

How long will it take for Demi Lovato to sing the national anthem?

• Over 1:54 -120
• Under 1:54 -120

Skill vs. Entertainment in the Boxing Prop Market

Betting on the prop market is a fun way to spice up a betting strategy, compared to the more traditional outright win, method of victory market and rounds markets.

But it’s important to note the two different kinds of prop bets available. Some prop bets require betting strategy and skill to make good bets while others are simply fun bets played for purely entertainment value.

Knowing the difference between these two types of prop bets when setting up a betting strategy for a particular fight is paramount to understanding how much to wager as well as what type of bets to place on the market.

Placing bets on props like thrown and landed are examples of skill-based wagers. These kinds of bets can be better placed by looking at a fighter’s past performances as well as his opponent’s career.

Does the fighter land a high amount of punches in his fights on the regular? Are there enough fight stats available from CompuBox for quality data analysis? Does his opponent get hit a lot because of poor defense? Does a talent or skill deficit exist between the opponents?

Asking the right questions and finding the answers to them are an important part of a winning betting strategy. Gambling.com’s boxing betting strategy guide offers more tips and tricks as well as the best resources for gathering data.

But other prop bets can be purely speculative. If a famous singer like Demi Lovato is set to sing the national anthem before a big fight and has never done so before any other kind of event, is there anything to really research before placing the bet?

These types of wagers are akin to a coin toss. They can be fun to add to a betting portfolio but only sparingly and strictly for the thrill of chance.