Boxing rivalries that make placing bets even more exciting
Boxing is one of the most popular and exciting sports to watch globally. This is certainly true around Ireland and sees people across the land following the biggest bouts as they happen. Watching the action unfold is not enough for some fight fans though, which makes betting on contests popular as well.
To get the most from boxing betting, it pays to find the best clashes and most engaging bouts to put money on. This often involves contests which are fuelled by intense rivalries, which add even more spice for bettors. The top boxing rivalries also pit the best fighters against one another, and this makes for an even more thrilling betting experience.
But which modern day boxing rivalries make betting on the sport extra exciting?
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
If there’s one eye-catching rivalry which leaves boxing fans excited, it’s Fury vs Usyk in the heavyweight division. Their differing personalities and ongoing debate over who’s the true king of the ring never fails to entertain.
They are quite closely matched, which makes deciding on who to back when they meet intriguing for bettors. This was clear during their two fights in May 2024 and December 2024. Although Usyk won both on points, they were close affairs, and the first contest was settled on a split decision.
Fury went on record in July 2025 to propose a trilogy bout for April 2026 between the pair. Although Usyk was quick to deny this, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it happen. Usyk’s recent win over Daniel Dubois leaves the way clear and it’s a contest that will attract lots of attention from bettors if it goes ahead.
Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor
Katie Taylor is one of the finest boxers Ireland has ever produced and a real icon of the sport. Her ongoing rivalry with Chantelle Cameron only cements this legacy and makes betting on boxing more interesting for fans.
In the duo’s first fight, Cameron caused something of an upset to hand Taylor her first professional loss. The highly anticipated rematch saw Taylor bounce back to beat Cameron by majority decision in late 2023. A trilogy bout was expected after this but has never happened, with Cameron accusing Taylor of dodging it.
The WBC has now ordered the pair to get a third fight sorted out and it will be interesting to see what sparks will fly if plans for Taylor to take on Cameron again bear fruit.
Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
These are two of the top names in modern day boxing and masters of the ‘Soviet’ style. As a result, Bivol and Beterbiev share an intense rivalry which draws fans in. It also makes betting on their clashes engaging and even more exciting.
To date, they’ve fought twice and both clashes showcased their differing approaches to the sport. Beterbiev’s stunning KO power won out in their first clash, but this was a controversial decision that only fuelled the rivalry further.
Bivol vs Beterbiev II was a turnaround and saw Bivol use his surgical precision to take a points win over his opponent. There’s been a highly anticipated third fight mentioned but nothing has been scheduled officially yet. If it does happen though, it will be a massive bout for people to bet on and a tricky fight to call.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn
If you’re looking for boxing rivalries that go beyond a mere will to win into genuine dislike, this is an obvious example. Much of the drama between these two boxers stems from the rivalry their fathers had back in the 1990s. It seems this has been passed onto their sons and actually grown more intense.
There’s been lots of examples of this, ranging from an incendiary March 2025 Piers Morgan Uncensored interview where Benn said: “I personally think he’s an idiot” when speaking about Eubank Jr to Eubank Jr slapping Been with an egg in the buildup to their Fatal Fury bout in April 2025.
Eubank Jr won this clash on points, but a rematch is already on the cards for mid-November 2025. The expected press conference histrionics and all-out war in the ring is something that will make betting on it extra special.
Heated rivalries make betting on boxing a blast
The world of professional sport is littered with intense rivalries that are fuelled by the desire to be the best or genuine personal dislike. Boxing is no different and the above are some of the biggest to know about today. These battles make betting on the sport even more exciting and help bettors find the most engaging bouts to wager on.
