Boxing has a cult-like following in the Philippines and has gone through several golden ages, the most recent of which coming through Manny Pacquiao. This has driven a renewed interest in legal betting on boxing in the Philippines at legal offshore Philippine sportsbooks.
Because of Pacquiao, the sport has seen a resurgence over the past couple decades, with many young Filipino boxers aspiring to emulate the national icon (known as the Pacquiao Wave). Legal betting on boxing is also very popular for Filipino residents and available through both domestic and international means.
This page was created specifically for the Filipino sports gambling market and has information on boxing and how residents can go about wagering on the sport. Legal Philippines boxing bets can be placed, you just have to understand the legalities involved.
Is It Legal To Bet On Boxing In The Philippines?
Yes. There are several gambling laws in the Philippines, but sports gambling is considered legal and ran through PAGCOR, or the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. PAGCOR has multiple brick-and-mortar locations scattered throughout the country, though Metro Manila houses the bulk of the action.
MegaSportsWorld is another sports gambling entity that is well-versed in boxing betting. They offer a phone and online service for residents to use, though the online component is limited to players rated as VIP casino members. Filipinos can also utilize licensed offshore sportsbooks. These types of sportsbooks are legal for residents to use and host betting lines on most notable fights throughout the year.
Best 2024 Sportsbooks For Betting On Boxing In The Philippines
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Age | Accepts Filipinos? | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
 | Up To 7 BTC | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 100% Max $500 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
How To Bet On Boxing
When it comes to betting on boxing, the most common lines come down to just picking a boxer to win outright. This style is known as betting on the moneyline, or American odds. In some cases, you can bet on a potential matchup to happen. For example, you can place a bet on Manny Pacquiao to win over Conor McGregor, even though that fight has not been officially announced.
Another style of betting comes through betting on individual rounds through props and live betting. This is very popular when a particular fighter is favored to win. For example, in the Mayweather-McGregor fight, Mayweather was favored to win. If most sportsbooks have him winning, there is not much money to be made. The real money comes with betting on him to knock McGregor out in a specific round.
You can also do round-by-round betting, which leans on the judges’ score of each individual round. Either way, there are multiple options when it comes to wagering on boxing.
History Of Boxing In Philippines
Boxing was legalized in the Philippines in 1921. From there, it began to grow in popularity and circulation. Dencio Cabanela, Speedy Dado, Franciso, Elino, Macario, and Ireneo Flores, Pete Sarmiento, Sylvino Jamito, Macario Villon and Pancho Villa are amongst the top-rated fighters of this early era.
Pancho Villa was the first ever Filipino World Champion after defeating Welshman Jimmy Wilde. Several untimely deaths saw the loss of some of these boxing greats and a diminishing interest in the sport. Ceferino Garcia caused a resurgence when he won the NYSAC middleweight championship after defeating American Fred Apostoli in New York City in 1939.
Gabriel “Flash” Elorde caused the second wave of boxing in the Philippines in 1955. Elorde won the world super featherweight championship in 1960 and held onto his division title for over 7 years that saw him defend his title a total of 10 times. As Elorde faded away, so did interest in boxing again, especially with the rise of other sports like basketball.
Manny Pacquiao drove the third resurgence of boxing in the Philippines. Over the years, Pacquiao amassed titles in the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight divisions. In 2009, Pacquiao dethroned Oscar De La Hoya by clinching a record seven-division titles. A year later, he beat his own record by becoming the first boxer to win 8 world titles in 8 weight divisions. One of his last major fights was against Floyd “Money” Mayweather, and while the fight was disappointing from a viewing standpoint, it pulled in millions in terms of bets and other revenue.
Pacquiao stirred the Pacquaio Wave, which led to a new generation of Filipino boxers taking charge. Nonito Donaire is the second Asian to win 4 titles in 4 weight categories. Donnie Nietes set a record in 2017 by becoming the third Filipino boxer to win 3 titles in 3 divisions. As you can see, boxing is on a high note in the Philippines. They are just waiting for one of these new stars to make their nation proud.