How to Read Boxing Odds

Understanding boxing odds is easier than it looks. Moneyline odds tell you who’s favored to win a fight. A negative number (e.g. -400) means that fighter is the favorite – you’d need to bet \$400 to win \$100 profit. A positive number (e.g. +300) means an underdog – a \$100 bet would profit \$300. In other words, favorites have a minus sign and require a larger bet to win \$100, while underdogs have a plus sign and pay out more than you wager if they win.

Over/Under (Rounds) is a bet on how long the fight lasts. The sportsbook sets a rounds total (often with a half-round). For example, O/U 9.5 rounds means halfway through the 9th round. “Over 9.5 (+160)” means you profit \$160 on a \$100 bet if the fight goes past that point; “Under 9.5 (-185)” means you’d wager \$185 to win \$100 if the fight ends sooner. The plus/minus on these round bets works just like moneylines for payout.

Prop odds cover specific outcomes. Common props in boxing include method of victory – e.g. a fighter to win by knockout (KO) or by decision – and round betting, picking the exact round or a range of rounds for the fight to end. These typically have higher payouts because they’re harder to predict. For instance, a fighter might be +200 to win by KO (win \$200 on a \$100 bet) if you correctly guess they’ll knock out their opponent. You may also see props like *“Will the fight go the distance?”* (Yes/No). All these odds use the same moneyline format – positive means bigger underdog for that outcome, negative means favored outcome.

When reading boxing odds, remember: the minus sign (favorite) indicates how much to bet to win \$100, and the plus (underdog) shows how much you’d win on a \$100 bet. Combine that knowledge with understanding bet types (fight winner, total rounds, props), and you’ll read boxing odds like a pro.

Sources: American Gambler; Pickswise