Within boxing, there are a variety of betting markets that can provide fans of the sweet science with different ways of wagering their cash. As well as things such as betting on the outcome of the fight, method of victory, punches, duration and more, punters can also have a flutter on knockdowns. Although there are a few ways of betting on knockdowns, the success of such bets always depends on the same element: the number of knockdowns in a fight.
Before you place any bets on knockdowns though, you should be sure what the term includes. There are four ways in which a fighter can record a knockdown. This happens when a punch lands and the receiving boxer:
- Touches the canvas with any part of their body other than their feet e.g. knee, glove
- Would have touched the canvas but is held up by the ropes
- Hangs on to, goes through or over the ropes and ends up in a position where they cannot protect themselves but cannot fall as they are held up/lodged by the ropes
Note that where a slip leads to one of these four conditions that does not count as a knockdown and it is down to the referee to decide what is and is not a slip. Additionally, a knockdown must be the result of a punch and not a mere accident. The final point to note is that according to the rulebook, a knockdown involves a conscious boxer who returns to their feet before the mandatory eight count. If they hit the canvas while knocked out and cannot continue this is classed as a knockout instead. Although this is a significant difference, usually for the purposes of betting, if a fighter is knocked out, they will also be considered knocked down.
Having covered what constitutes a knockdown, you may be wondering why you would bet on this rather than a more popular market like ‘to win the fight’ or ‘to win by knockout’. Well, one benefit from an entertainment perspective is that knockdown bets do tend to stay alive for some time. Given that knockdowns can occur at any moment, and there can be more than one in a fight, you can usually hold hope you might have placed a winning bet.
It is also possible that you may identify better value in a knockdown market. If a fighter has a habit of sending their rival to the canvas, or is prone to doing this themselves, they can make for a smart wager, even when the overall outcome of the contest may be less clear.
Knockdown Markets
Now it is time to look at the knockdown markets that are available. You will find that some of these are not offered by every bookmaker and/or not available for every fight. The bigger the bout, the more markets a bookmaker will generally provide so this should increase the knockdown betting options. If you would like to place a knockdown bet that is not available, some bookmakers will provide odds through a ‘request a bet’ feature.
- First Knockdown – This market lets you predict which fighter will be the first to be knocked down in the fight. The option of ‘no knockdown’ may also be provided with this market
- To Score a Knockdown – Simply, a market that lets you pick a boxer you think will deliver a knockdown at any point during the fight
- Total Knockdowns Under/Over – With total knockdowns you will simply bet on the total number of knockdowns that will occur in the entire bout. You do this by betting over or under a specified number of knockdowns provided by the bookmaker. As standard, this is the total for both fighters but individual-fighter knockdowns may be offered as an alternative
- Total Knockdowns Exact – The same as above only you need to pick the precise number of knockdowns, rather than selecting over/under a selected value. This is harder but the odds reflect that
- Specific Round Knockdown – Here you will bet on a chosen fighter to be knocked down in a specific round
- Knockdown and Win – In this market, you bet on a fighter to win a fight despite suffering a knockdown at some stage during the contest
Knockdown Betting Rules
Before placing your knockdown bets, it’s essential to understand the rules, which are generally consistent across most sportsbooks. Here are the few key rules for boxing knockdown betting:
- Official Knockdown – For bet settlement purposes, a knockdown is defined as a fighter being KO’d or receiving a mandatory eight count. A fall will not count if simply deemed a slip by the referee
- Round Betting – If you place a bet on a knockdown to occur during a particular round but the fight ends prior to this point, your bet will usually be a loser
- Knockdown Award To… – Always check the wording of the market as sometimes a knockdown will refer to the fighter that has been knocked down. This is usually the case in markets such as round betting. ‘To score a knockdown’ on the other hand requires you to pick the boxer delivering the knockdown. If you are unsure, check with the bookmaker
- Postponement – If a fight is postponed, any knockdown bets on that bout will typically be settled as void unless it takes place within the next couple of days
Knockdown Betting Strategy
Boxing is a sport that can deliver some surprises, particularly when it comes to knockdowns. How many people thought boxing debutant Francis Ngannou would send heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury to the floor in 2023? Not us, that’s for sure. If delving into the knockdown market, there are a few key points you should consider before parting with your hard-earned cash:
- Study Fighter Styles – Analyse the fighters’ styles and past performances. Some fighters are known for their knockout power, while others may have strong defensive skills. This information can guide your knockdown predictions. Knockdown stats can be tricky to find, as opposed to full knockouts, so it helps if you have seen the fighters in action yourself
- Round-by-Round Analysis – If making an in-play bet, pay attention to the flow of the fight round by round. As the fight progresses, you may notice signs of fatigue or vulnerability that increase the likelihood of a knockdown
- Underdog Opportunities – Betting on underdogs to score a knockdown can offer attractive odds. Some fighters have the power to surprise their opponents, even if they are not favoured to win the fight