Boxing is the oldest and most famous combat sport still followed today. It has roots deep in human history, with evidence of professional boxing bouts recovered from Ancient Greece to Victorian England. But boxing has never been quite as popular as today, with the top fixtures attended by thousands of fans and watched by millions of armchair supporters worldwide.
Many fight fans enjoy adding an extra layer of excitement to the action by making predictions and betting on the outcome. Leading online gambling apps from New York to the leading Oklahoma sports betting sites cover boxing in detail, offering fight winner odds on upcoming bouts and exciting fights that have yet to be announced. If you have never bet on boxing, you’re missing out on an exciting way to enjoy the noble art.
This page highlights some of the most exciting fixtures from the 2023 boxing schedule. Our team of boxing experts previews the action and highlights the thoughts of gambling traders working in Las Vegas. By the end of this article, you’ll have some important dates for your diary and know which fighters the bookies are betting on. We even explain how you can land a free bet on boxing using your Android or iOS smartphone.
Chris Eubank Jr v Liam Smith
This is a bout that will excite British boxing fans, but the action from Eubank v Smith will be broadcast worldwide. Eubank Jr was supposed to fight Connor Benn late last year, only for the bout to fall through at the last minute.
Former world champion Eubank wasn’t in the mood to hang around, instructing his team to change the schedule. He’ll now face fellow Englishman Liam Smith in Manchester, England.
The pre-fight betting tells us to expect a win for Eubank, but UK fight game insiders warn this bout will be more competitive than the odds suggest. Junior is the favorite with bookies who expect him to win on points.
Artur Beterbiev v Anthony Yarde
Anthony Yarde famously lost in Russia when challenging for the world title, and he’s ready to get his career back on track. A big win in the early exchanges of 2023 would undoubtedly help the Londoner achieve that and set up an exciting season.
To get the year off to a winning start, Yarde must defeat a Canadian opponent in Artur Beterbiev, who boasts a perfect 18-fight CV, with each of those victories coming by knockout. Will Yarde be the first fighter to take Artur the distance? Which gladiator will come out on top?
The pre-fight betting comes down hard in support of the KO artist Beterbiev, the red-hot favorite. Having felled each of his previous 18 opponents inside the distance, that will come as no surprise to boxing fans or experienced bettors.
David Benavidez v Caleb Plant
Caleb Plant’s only defeat in an impressive 23-fight career came against pound-for-pound legend Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas in 2021. Since losing to Canelo by stoppage in the penultimate round at the MGM Grand, Caleb has fought only once, beating Anthony Dirrell by ninth-round knockout in Brooklyn.
Opponent David Benavidez aims to stop his rival’s comeback before it gathers pace. The fighter from Phoenix has a 26-0-0 record with 23 KO wins already on his card. He was last seen beating David Lemieux by third-round stoppage in Glendale last spring and knows another win over Plant would thrust him further up the rankings.
The pre-fight betting odds attached to this bout show that traders come in support of the unbeaten fighter and expect him to land another impressive win by stoppage. Will this one follow the form, or can Plant cause an upset and gain the victory needed to put him back on a collision course with.
Free bets and promos
Fancy a free bet on the next big fight night? The leading sportsbooks offer all new customers a welcome bonus free bet when you create an account, make your first deposit and place a qualifying bet on sports.
These promos come in a few different forms, but the most popular at present is the deposit-matched free bet. This free bet will equal your first wager, putting you in complete control of how much you spend and the size of your free bet.