Boxing Betting Strategy: Hungry Fighters vs. Champs

One term that's thrown around in boxing a lot is "hungry fighter." As most people know, this means a boxer who's motivated to reach the top and all the riches and glory that accompany being a champion. Hungry fighters are willing to run the extra miles and put long, hard hours into the gym to be the best.

Of course, there's always an incumbent champ or top-ranked contender standing in the way of a motivated fighter. And many people feel as if the hungrier boxer holds a big advantage in the desire department. But does this mean that people should also give these fighters an overall edge when it comes to boxing betting?

Before we answer this question, let's take a look at a conversation that 7-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger had with fellow bodybuilder Eddie Guiliani in the documentary Pumping Iron:

Eddie Guiliani - "See the king of the hill can only go down."

Arnold Schwarzenegger - "Or stay up."

Guiliani - "But the wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing up the hill."

Schwarzenegger - "That's true, he's not as hungry. But when he wants food, it's there."

Arnold's point is that a champion has the best resources for staying on top. In boxing, this means that a title belt holder is going to have the best trainers and excellent workout facilities. Sure their opponent is likely to have some great people working in their corner too, but maybe not quite as good as the champ.

Taking this into account, you really have to consider if a hungry fighter's desire outweighs the champ's oftentimes superior trainers and facilities. By really thinking this factor over, you can greatly improve your long-term boxing betting success.

Some aspects that you need to look at in regard to the title holder is how their camp is going, their conditioning in recent fights, and if there are any negative rumors surfacing. Here's a more detailed look at each of these considerations:

Training Camp - If the champ is to remain on top, they need to have a good camp and come out in great shape. Check out boxing news sites to see how each fighter's camp is going and if they're getting along with trainers.

Conditioning in Previous Fights - It's been said time and time again that bettors need to study a fighter's last 2-3 matches. And this is definitely good advice, especially when considering a boxer's conditioning. You can often tell how motivated a champ is by how their conditioning and physique have looked in recent fights.

Rumors - Sometimes when an athlete reaches the top, they fall into the temptations of drugs, partying and laziness. There may be no greater example of this than Mike Tyson, whose life was spiraling out of control shortly before he was upset by the virtually unknown Buster Douglas in 1990. So if you hear rumors about a champ not taking their upcoming opponent seriously, be prepared to look at the underdog a little closer.

As you can see, there are several things to consider when it comes to the hungry fighter vs. established champion debate. So make sure to do your research before you give an edge to the hungry contender or title holder in the betting department.