How to bet on a boxing match Fight Handicapping Basics
For the average fan, handicapping a boxing match might seem very intimidating. Certainly, the nature of the sport can befuddle even veteran observers when they attempt to predict the outcome of a fight. There are so many different variables that go into who wins a fight, including some (the attitude of the referee, judging) that are beyond the control of the fighters. More than anything else, boxing is a sport where things can change in an instant. One big punch can completely turn a fight around and send a boxer tumbling from the penthouse to the doghouse in one fell swoop.
While there are no guarantees when it comes to handicapping fights, there are certain elements that you should look at before deciding on your pick for the winner of a contest. Fortunately for you, there are far more places to research boxers ahead of fights today than ever before. Boxing sites like Boxrec.com have detailed information about the records of fighters along with the measurable and recaps of past fights. Even fighters from obscure parts of the world have fights up on YouTube to watch and try to learn from.
Here are a few things that you should consider when evaluating a fight before deciding on where to place your money:
Quality of Opponents: A novice might see an undefeated fighter going up against an opponent with three or more losses and assume that a fight is going to be a mismatch. “After all,” they think, “if a boxer has never lost, then he has to be pretty good, right?” However, this is frequently not the case as who a person has fought is often just as important as what the results were. Many fighters pad their records with wins against a poor quality of opposition only to be stunned when they step up in class. Meanwhile, fighters with experience against world-class opponents (even in losing efforts) are less likely to be intimidated by certain situations.
Orthodox vs. Southpaw: The vast majority of boxers are right-handed - this means that they jab and primarily defend with their left hand. Left-handed (“southpaw”) boxers are the opposite, and this difference can make fighting them very awkward for the average orthodox fighter. Southpaw fighters circle the ring differently and are harder to reach with a big right hand. Some fighters are just uncomfortable fighting against southpaws. Checking a fighter’s past history to see how they have fared against lefties in the past can help you determine how comfortable they are fighting a southpaw. If a boxer has never faced a southpaw before, this could be a red flag that they might struggle in an upcoming fight against one.
Ring Rust: Various factors can lead to a boxer having an extended period of absence from the ring including injuries, recovery from a tough fight, trouble finding a worthy opponent or just wanting to take a break. No matter what the reason, the fact is that a fighter returning to the range from a lengthy hiatus is vulnerable to “ring rust.” It’s impossible to duplicate the feeling of being in the ring during an actual fight during training. Even hundreds of rounds spent in sparring sessions aren’t the same as actually getting into the ring with a live opponent in front of a screaming crowd. It can take even the best fighters a few rounds to get used to being in the ring again after a long lay-off, and an opponent who is a quick starter (especially one with power) can sometimes capitalize on this.
Styles Make Fights: This is a well-worn axiom in boxing but there is a lot of truth to it. Each fighter has unique strengths and weaknesses, and understanding what these are will give you a sense of how they match up with certain opponents. The recent fight between Amir Khan and Paulie Maglignaggi is a prime example of this. The big question mark about Khan is his chin; however, the light-hitting Malignaggi was no threat to Khan. Because he didn’t have to be afraid of getting rocked, Khan was able to calmly execute his game plan and claim and easily victory. However, Khan might have been in more trouble against a less talented opponent if that opponent had some real punching power (as with his knockout loss to Breidis Prescott).
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