Sportradar Unveils Its 3rd Yearly Integrity Report

Sportradar Unveils Its 3rd Yearly Integrity Report


Sportradar’s unit known as Sportradar Integrity Services, has revealed its yearly report named “Betting Corruption and Match-fixing in 2023,” which provided details about the firm’s discoveries of questionable wagering on international sport. Additionally, based on the supervision of roughly 850.000 matches and events in 70 sports, the report emphasizes an overall of 1,329 dubious matches in last year, which took place in 11 sports in 105 countries.

Findings:

The data shows that the rate of suspected tampering across all sports stayed stable at 0.21%, or 1 in each 467 matches last year. Similarly, the analysis didn’t flag any sport with a dubious ratio bigger than 1%, validating that suspicious wagering wasn’t detected in 99.5% of supervised sporting events, compared to 2022.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) provided an assistance in the discovery of nearly 3 quarters (73% or 977 cases) of all dubious matches last year, which represent an increase of 123% from 2022. Although the integration of artificial intelligence into the Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) of Sportradar has fueled observation rates, examination by the firm’s integrity experts is crucial to make sure exact data interpretation. Also, Sportradar is devoted to progressing human oversight and AI capabilities to keep safe the integrity of sports.

As for the crucial discoveries of the past year, they are:

  • 1,295 dubious matches took place from men’s sporting events, although 34 took place from women’s sporting events
  • Europe had the biggest number of dubious matches (667 vs 630 in 2022), then Asia (302 vs 240 in 2022) and lastly South America (217 vs 225 in 2022)
  • Account-level wagering data was utilized to discover 100% of dubious matches in tennis and table tennis and 85% of dubious matches in volleyball, signifying the importance of working closely with the sports wagering industry to fight against integrity threats and match-fixing
  • soccer, known as the most famous sport for wagering, proceeded to be one of the sports most affected by match-fixing, with 880 dubious matches, then basketball with 205 matches and finally table tennis with 70 matches.

The importance of Sportradar Integrity Service reports and data:

The reports and data of the aforementioned union of Sportradar from last year, were one of the reasons for an overall 147 criminal and sporting sanctions, covering 10 sports in 23 countries in 39 cases, underscoring the firm’s credentials as the already established leader in the integrity services market.

By backing more than 220 allies around the globe, involving law enforcement agencies, national platforms, state authorities and sports organizations, Sportradar is devoted to maintaining sport free from threats like doping, match-fixing among many different types of corruption and fraud.

In this regard, executive VP of Integrity, Rights Protection and Regulatory Services, Andreas Krannich, commented according to the official press release: “Continued investment in the development of technology is key to detecting otherwise hard-to-find occurrences of match-fixing. In combination with access to account-level data, collaboration across the industry and human experts, we have a suite of powerful tools to help both prevent and detect risks to sports integrity. Further advancements in the fight against match-fixing will be possible as the AI models continue to learn and we will keep honing our expertise to protect sport from manipulation.”

To detect match-fixing, Sportradar utilizes a multi-faceted, holistic approach, boosted by its flagship tech alongside a professional Integrity Services unit. As well as account-level data, UFDS utilizes state-of-the-art AI to discover and marks dubious matches to Sportradar’s international team of integrity analysts, as well as examine 30 billion odds modifications across 600 international wagering operators in real-time.

This effort is also backed by another unit called Sportradar Integrity Exchange (SIE), where over 70 wagering operators proactively file dubious information regarding wagering, utilizing account-level wagering data to discover and mark dubious matches.





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Brain Teaser: Find the Lucky Four-Leaf Clover for St. Patrick’s Day

Four leaf clover


How long will it take you to solve this challenging St. Paddy’s Day puzzle?

Is there anything more synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day than a lucky shamrock? 

Ahead of the big day, at VegasSlotsOnline, we challenge you to spot the single four-leaf clover in this tricky brain teaser. 

Think you’ve got what it takes to beat the 11-second record? Try the seek-and-find puzzle below!

So, was the luck of the Irish with you on this brain teaser? If you spotted the four-leaf clover in less than 37 seconds, you beat the average time taken to solve the challenge. 

You might have also brought yourself a whole load of good fortune too. Apparently, only one in 10,000 clovers have four leaves — which is precisely why finding one is considered to be so lucky! 

Why not share our brain teaser with your friends and family too, and spread the luck this St. Patrick’s Day. 

And if you’re still stuck not to worry, you can find the brain teaser answer below: 

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Spinomenal Strikes Partnership with Eurobet to Anchor Italian Market Position

Spinomenal Strikes Partnership with Eurobet to Anchor Italian Market Position


Spinomenal, a recognized supplier of engaging iGaming content, has entered a content supply agreement with Italian online casino operator Eurobet, a subsidiary of the iGaming headliner Entain Group. The deal will help Spinomenal extend its reach to a wider player community in the regulated Italian market. At the same time, Eurobet’s addition of the exclusive content to its comprehensive portfolio will reinforce its leading position in the dynamic Italian market.

Exclusive Content Supply

Under the agreement, the operator will be enabled to access Spinomenal’s diverse catalogue of popular titles and launch them on its state-of-the-art platform. The supplier’s releases are increasingly popular among players for a wide range of integrated features. A fine selection of these will now fuel the operator’s platform to render an unparalleled player experience. The gems like Majestic King, Aztec Spell and Lucky Jack – Lost Jungle are now within the reach of the Eurobet’s player pool.

Light&Wonder Facilitate the Content Deal

The integration of Spinomenal’s content into the renowned Italian operator’s platform is facilitated by the top-tier content aggregator Light & Wonder. Under a B2B partnership between the two content suppliers, the aggregator’s OpenGaming platform is employed here as a bridge between Spinomenal and Eurobet.

Seamless Content Integration

The aggregation platform securing a swift and seamless content transition by means of a series of high-end features and tools makes Light & Wonder a go-to destination for the leading game developers and content suppliers around the world. Spinomenal’s choice of aggregator for the latest deal testifies about the provider’s commitment to further increase its presence in the Italian jurisdiction.

Continued Italian Expansion

spinomenal_increases_italian_presence_with_eurobet_italy_partnership_The content supply deal struck with Eurobet follows Spinomenal’s recent Italian expansion. At end of January 2024, the supplier signed the leading online gaming operator NetBet Italy for the content supply purposes. The Eurobet deal, signed less than a week later, testifies about Spinomenal’s determination to make its content comfortable in the Italian market as the provider seems to be coming to stay.

Commenting on the latest content partnership with Eurobet, Lior Shvartz, CEO for Spinomenal commented: “Italy’s iGaming market growth is mighty impressive and we’re very happy to broaden our footprint here with a collaboration with Eurobet Italy.”

Source: “Spinomenal Increases Italian Presence with Eurobet Italy Partnership”. Spinomenal. March 4, 2024.

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Another 53 Arrests in Connection With €2m Spanish Sports Betting Fraud Ring

Police officer cuffing suspect


Another step in the right direction

Law enforcement officers have arrested another 53 people who were allegedly involved in a major sports betting fraud ring in Spain. Spanish police and the country’s tax agency worked with Interpol and Europol to detain the suspects.

The initial phase saw officers bring 22 people into custody last year. These individuals were allegedly the leaders of the scheme and made about €2m ($2.2m) in profits.

allegedly working as mules for the illegal operation

Another 53 people were recently taken into custody in Guadalajara and Madrid as part of the second wave of arrests. They were allegedly working as mules for the illegal operation, allowing the ringleaders to use their personal info for online betting accounts in return for cash.

Duped sportsbooks

The illegal operation fixed sporting events and intercepted streams going to sportsbooks that thought they were getting live coverage of the given event. The group used advanced technology to delay the feeds so the ringleaders could place wagers before the sportsbook operator was aware of the latest action. After profiting from the delayed streams, the gang then laundered the money.

The criminal group allegedly fixed events across 20 different countries and a range of sports.

The authorities started investigating the criminal enterprise as far back as 2020 after noticing some suspicious online table tennis wagers. This led to the discovery of the scheme in Spain, which was largely operated by people from Bulgaria and Romania.

A major operation

The criminals used the personal information of hundreds of people to place wagers, having about 1,500 accounts under their control. Their use of various payment gateways and cryptocurrencies made it hard for investigators to follow the betting activity and trace the funds.

found over 200 prepaid SIM cards

During the raids at four residences last year, police seized computers, a couple of large satellite dishes, 80 telephone terminals, €13,000 ($14,120) in counterfeit money, €5,500 ($5,974) in cash, and signal receivers. They also found over 200 prepaid SIM cards.

The authorities blocked about €400,000 ($434,460) worth of cryptocurrency, 28 payment gateway accounts, and 47 bank accounts.

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Blackjack Variations: How to Play Super Fun 21 Extreme

Blackjack Variations: How to Play Super Fun 21 Extreme


By John Grochowski

Among blackjack variations that are rising in popularity in online casinos, Super Fun 21 Extreme has intrigue written in its very name.

What’s Super Fun about it? What’s extreme?

Super Fun 21 Extreme is a variation on Super Fun 21, a blackjack-based game that has been available since the beginning of the 2000s. The “super fun” part comes in offering players extra chances to double down and incorporating the late surrender rule.

In standard blackjack, you may double only on the first two cards. In Super Fun, you may double after any number of cards. Surrender isn’t common in standard 21, but when offered, you may surrender half your bet after the first two cards instead of playing the hand and risking it all. In Super Fun, you may surrender after any number of cards.

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Ex-Crown Resorts Billionaire Owner Will Never Again Invest in Casinos or China

Crown Perth


Bouncing back

Former Crown Resorts owner James Packer has resurfaced following his fall from grace. In a lengthy interview with news media outlet The Nightly, the 56-year-old revealed that he will never do business in China again or invest in casinos.

had to sell his 37% stake in Crown Resorts

Packer had to sell his 37% stake in Crown Resorts to the Blackstone Group in 2022 for AU$3.4bn (US$2.2bn) following extensive revelations about the company’s operations.

Multiple inquiries into the casino firm highlighted major failings across its Australian properties, including money laundering, shady relationships with triad-linked junkets in Asia, and employees getting arrested for illegally promoting gambling in mainland China. Packer did not attend board meetings for over three years.

Adamant in his views

Talking about Crown’s struggles, Packer said the company “did things that it shouldn’t have done and I apologize for that.” He shipped some of the blame to governments for changing tax rates and breaking contracts, which is why he no longer wants to get into a heavily regulated industry again.

Speaking about China, he believes that its economic climate isn’t what it was 15 years ago. He thinks that the country is experiencing significant issues with growth and that not many people are willing to invest big money into the region anymore.

He is still very proud about the development of the Crown Sydney casino resort which opened in 2021 after a AU$2.2bn (US$1.4bn) investment. It was unable to offer gambling for more than 18 months due to the company’s issues. Packer owns an apartment at the property and intends to spend more time in the country going forward.

Crown overcoming its issues

Crown Resorts is now working to meet the remediation standards that regulators have required for it to continue operating casinos. Its financial results are not publicly available anymore since its new owner took the company private, so it is hard to know how the business itself is performing.

James Packer is the grandson of media mogul Frank Packer and inherited Consolidated Press Holdings, as well as investments in other companies like Crown Resorts.

Blackstone subsequently admitted that its task to turn the company around was a lot bigger than it envisioned when taking over. Crown avoided another scandal recently when its CEO was cleared of any wrongdoing after allowing banned patrons to enter the Crown Sydney casino.

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New York Lobbyists Took in $131m Last Year Amid Casino License Push

Statue of Liberty with money


Investing major sums

Political lobbyists in New York City raked in huge sums in 2023 and may be set for more this year as the battle to build lucrative downstate casinos heats up. A new report outlines how total lobbyist compensation rose 8% year-on-year, up to $131m.

biggest spenders were groups linked with billionaire Steve Cohen

The biggest spenders were groups linked with billionaire Steve Cohen, who hopes to develop a casino adjacent to New York Mets stadium Citi Field. He is partnering with Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment on the project, the entities spending more than $2m on lobbyists in 2023.

Two of Cohen’s companies splashed out almost $1.4m altogether and employed the services of seven different firms.

Competition heating up

The other interested parties for these licenses are also investing plenty of money to curry favor for their own plans. Pushing for a casino in Hudson Yards, Wynn Resorts invested $314,000 in lobbyists last year.

The frontrunners for two of the three available licenses are existing slots parlors in the state, namely MGM Resorts-owned Empire City Casino and Genting-owned Resorts World New York City. They both spent $300,000 in 2023 as they tried to expand their current licenses to allow them to offer table games.

Bally’s retainers totaled $285,000 as it attempted to get approval for a casino in The Bronx, while Caesars Entertainment has proposed an ambitious Times Square project and spent $185,000 on lobbyists in 2023.

The New York City Clerk’s Office, which regulates the state’s lobbyists, produces an annual study detailing the expenditures. The sector with the most expenditure on lobbying was real estate firms, accounting for approximately one-third of the 2023 total.

Big business

The job of the lobbyists is to showcase the advantages of specific casino proposals to political figures. This can include showing lawmakers PowerPoint presentations and renderings of the planned developments, while also underlining the benefits for the local areas and the state.

companies don’t have to disclose the big money they spend on other services

While these types of relationships and compensation have to be made public, companies don’t have to disclose the big money they spend on other services like public relations, political strategy, and consulting.

The official application process for the casino licenses has yet to begin, with each permit carrying a license fee of $500m. It might not be until 2025 that the New York State Gaming Commission finally decides on the recipients of the licenses. Current estimates suggest annual tax revenue from these downstate casinos would reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

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A Look At The 7 Biggest & Best Cruise Ship Casinos

Allure of the Seas cruise ship


Casinos can be found on almost all of the major cruise ships in America or Europe, and for good reason. According to a study from Cruise Market Watch, nearly half of the onboard spending comes from the casino floor.

This leaves cruise lines with every incentive to make their casino bigger and better. So, without further ado, here are the seven best cruise ship casinos out there right now.

1. Allure of the Seas: 18,000 square feet

Image credit: Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s best cruise lines, with casinos operating on all seven seas. Their Oasis class ships were some of the biggest cruise ships on the ocean until the last few years. The Allure had her maiden voyage in 2010 and can comfortably handle 5,400 guests.

She has two dozen restaurants, 15 bars and lounges, and many other amenities, like rock climbing, an outdoor movie theater, minigolf, and a beautiful theater. Also, check out the zipline, the Aqua Theater, and their version of Central Park on a ship.

The casino on the Allure is currently the biggest on any cruise ship, coming in at 18,000 square feet. For comparison, a good-sized Las Vegas property might only be 100,000 square feet. However, the biggest casino in the world, the Winstar in Thackerville, Oklahoma, comes in at 600,000 square feet.

They have 27 table games, including fan favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, as well as some of the carnival games like Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and similar games. The slot total is 456, with all the usual hits like Buffalo, Buffalo Stampede, and 88 Fortunes.

They have a small non-smoking casino on Deck 4 with a few tables and several dozen slots if you need to be away from the smoke of the main casino. Overall, it’s the best cruise casino today.

2. Oasis of the Seas: 15,000 square feet

Image credit: Royal Caribbean

A fun fact: while the Oasis was built to the exact same specifications as her Sister ship, Allure of the Seas, the Oasis is 2 inches shorter in length. That being said, this Royal Caribbean flagship of the Oasis Class is a beauty. Her maiden voyage was in 2009.

Unlike her sister ship, Oasis had extensive renovations in 2019, so she has some newer amenities like an eleven-story slide and a waterpark. She also has several newer restaurant concepts that were not found on the Allure.

The Oasis lost some casino space during the remodel, but still has 15k gaming square footage, including 24 tables and 464 slot machines. The no-smoking casino has three tables and 46 slot machines to choose from. This is a good option if looking for the best slots on cruise ships.

3. Norwegian Epic: 13,000 square feet

Norwegian Epic cruise ship
Image credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

The Epic was launched in 2010 and was planned to have two sister ships in the same Epic class, but the deal fell through, so Epic became the only Epic class ship in the Norwegian fleet. She can hold about 5,300 guests and is 19 decks tall.

There are 15 restaurants onboard, as well as a dozen bars and lounges and the usual amenities, like water slides and rock climbing walls, as well as two pool areas and the Broadway-type Theaters that Norwegian is known for.

The Norwegian Epic once had one of the largest casinos on a cruise ship anywhere. However, after her remodel in 2020, she returned with a still respectable 348 slot machines and 28 tables over about 13,000 square feet.

You can find about any table game you wish to play, as well as every hot new slot you’ve been dying to try. While some other Norwegian casinos have poor reviews for ventilation, the sheer size of the Epic casino helps with the irritating cigarette smoke.

4. Symphony of the Seas: 12,000 square feet

Symphony of the Seas cruise ship
Image credit: Royal Caribbean

As one of the best cruise lines with casinos, it’s no surprise to see Royal Caribbean make the list again.

Royal Caribbean has five ships in the Oasis Class, and they span almost a decade of shipbuilding. The Symphony of the Seas was launched in 2018. While generally adhering to the Oasis model, she has upgraded staterooms and amenities that more closely match those of Oasis of the Seas after her remodel, than those of the Allure of the Seas, eight years her senior.

The casino on Symphony has also been somewhat reduced in size, down to about 12,000 square feet. But it seems similar in size to the one on Oasis and has almost the same number of tables (24) and slots (452). So we’re still happy to consider it as one of the best cruises with casinos.

5. Sun Princess: 9,000 square feet

Sun Princess cruise ship
Image credit: Princess Cruises

One of the best casino cruise ships is also the newest. Princess Cruise Lines Sphere class of cruise ships kicked off their maiden voyage in late February 2024 with the Sun Princess.

She has a capacity of 4,300 guests in a double stateroom, and if the name sounds a little familiar, it’s because she is named after the iconic Princess Line boat from the television show “Love Boat.”

The Princess has state-of-the-art cabins, and the usual zip lines and rock climbing. The dining room encompasses three full stories and looks over the ship’s stern, promising grandiose views. The Piazza is a glass sphere, which inspired this class’s name. It functions as the ship’s atrium and features several cafes and bars with views along the ship’s interior from its multi-floor perch.

The casino comes in at 9,000 square feet with 17 table games and 227 slots. They’re not getting the memo about scaled-back casino space; it’s the largest they’ve ever built.

Three great additions are table games linked progressives on blackjack and various poker games. A Buffalo Zone, often found in land-based casinos, is just a dedicated space for many Buffalo slot machines with cool signage. A new high-limit slot area will feature enhanced luxury seating for those long hours at the machines.

To be in with a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip on this cruise ship, check out this casino cruise tester competition.

6. Norwegian Escape: 8,000 square feet

Norwegian Escape cruise ship
Image credit: Norwegian Cruise Line

The Escape is a Breakaway Plus class ship. It was launched in 2015 and can comfortably carry just over 4,000 guests. Norwegian is known for its best-in-class Broadway-quality shows and entertainment and its relaxed approach to cruising. There are no formal dinner nights here.

The Escape has over two dozen dining options and 15 bars, as well as the de rigueur Aqua Park, rope climbing, rock climbing, and mini golf. There are two pool areas and a huge spa as well as a fitness area.

The casino covers about 8,000 square feet but squeezes in 23 tables and 318 slots. They have many poker variants like Three Card Poker, Pai Gow, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, as well as the staples of craps, blackjack, and roulette. The machines are newer and feature most of the same titles that you would find in a modern Las Vegas casino.

7. Carnival Celebration: 5,000 square feet



The Carnival Celebration is one of Carnival’s Excel Class ships. Launched in 2022, she can comfortably hold just over 5,300 guests and spends much of her time in the Caribbean on six- and eight-day cruises.

They have 24 restaurants, and if, for some inexplicable reason, you’re a huge Guy Fierro fan, they feature his Barbeque Smoke House concept, along with his Guy’s Burger Joint. There are 15 bars and lounges, none of which have any Guy-inspired cocktails that we are aware of, and the usual movie theater, climbing wall, and splash pad-type amenities.

What separates the Celebration from the competition is Bolt, its 800-foot-long, 40 mph rollercoaster on the top deck. This has upped the ante regarding onboard sports deck amenities and, at least on paper, looks a lot more entertaining than another rock-climbing wall.

While smaller than some of our other entries, it covers almost 5,000 square feet of space, has 15 tables, and has slightly more than 200 slot machines. It was voted Best Cruise Ship Casino in a reader’s choice poll in Newsweek in 2023.

FAQs About Cruise Ship Casinos

Are Cruise Ships Rigged?

As multi-billion dollar companies with millions of customers yearly, it simply doesn’t make economic sense to “rig” games.

That being said, there are no gaming commissions on the high seas that you can raise a dispute with, or that have mandated a minimum Return To Player percentage for slot machines.

Many believe that while most slots in the USA are set close to a 90% Return to Player, those in cruise ship casinos are set at closer to 80%, but there is no hard proof of that.

Do You Pay Taxes on Cruise Ship Winnings?

If you are a US Citizen and you win a slot jackpot in the waters off Mombasa or Monte Video or anywhere else in the world, the US government will want their piece of it, and you must pay federal taxes. Any jackpot over 1,200 will trigger the dreaded W2G and 24% withholding on major cruise lines. Technically, all winnings should be reported on a 1040.

If you are a UK citizen, there doesn’t seem to be the same tax burden, though please consult a tax professional should the need arise.

Do All Cruise Ships Have Casinos?

Nope. Even some of the major companies, like Norwegian, have boats that lack casinos, though usually with good reasons. For instance, their Pride Of America never leaves Hawaiian waters, so they would never be in a position to open the casino. Check the casino status before you book, though the vast majority will have them due to their significant revenue contribution.

Are Cruise Ship Casinos Regulated?

Most would be regulated by the country they are registered in, such as the Bahamas. Many have signed agreements and regulations with the CLIA (the Cruise Line International Association) – an industry trade group that provides some rules and oversight – but market forces do most regulation.



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FBI Investigating Cyberattack at Arizona Casino

Casino Del Sol


The FBI is investigating a cyberattack at the Casino Del Sol in Arizona which led to disruption at the property. Guests were unable to check into their hotel rooms, use the Wi-Fi, or withdraw money from ATMs.

While the casino shut down bingo games, the slot machines, table games, and sportsbook remain functional. The bars and restaurants are still only accepting cash and the loyalty rewards program is offline.

The Tucson casino issued a statement on its website about the issues, explaining that “An outside attempt was made to access Casino Del Sol’s systems.” Both the FBI and Pascua Yaqui Police Department are looking into the matter.

promised to provide updates as the systems return online

The casino did not provide any further details about the incident or reveal if the attackers accessed customer data or demanded a ransom. It promised to provide updates as the systems return online and apologized for any inconvenience that the incident caused.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe operates the property, as well as the Casino of the Sun, which is also dealing with the cyberattack. Casinos are a popular target for hackers – MGM Resorts International suffered a high-profile attack last year that led to extensive disruption for weeks at its Las Vegas properties.  

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Francis Ngannou Hoping to Join the Greatest Heavyweight Boxing Upsets Ever

Closeup of boxing gloves colliding


Ngannou adding to heavyweight boxing upsets?

Francis Ngannou is a huge underdog in his fight against heavyweight Anthony Joshua on March 8, but don’t tell Ngannou, who’s looking to cement one of the largest upsets in boxing history.

almost resulted in him pulling off one of the most unexpected victories

The 37-year-old longtime MMA fighter shocked the world by stepping into the ring for a debut match against world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October 2023. His brash carelessness for his opponent led many to believe that he would lose quickly, yet it almost resulted in him pulling off one of the most unexpected victories in the sport’s history.

As the burly Cameroonian returns to fight Joshua, he’s potentially 12 rounds away from joining boxing lore forever—and with only two bouts under his belt.

Ngannou vs. Joshua

Ngannou is a +370 underdog against Joshua, a -500 favorite, according to FanDuel. The implied probabilities of these odds suggest that Ngannou has a 21.3% chance of victory, while Joshua has an 83.3% chance.

Those odds, while still lopsided, give Ngannou much more of a chance than the majority of boxing fans and experts would have expected for his second fight. After all, he was as high as a +850 underdog (10.5% implied probability) at some sportsbooks for the Fury fight, while many live betting odds suggested he was the favorite to win heading into the final round.

Although Fury is considered a better fighter than Joshua, the latter may present a more difficult matchup for the 37-year-old novice. He’s stronger and more willing to take power shots and to throw his own, whereas Fury quickly realized he could not stand in the center of the ring and survive. 

Joshua also has tape of Ngannou to watch, whereas Fury had very little outside of his decorated MMA career.

A Ngannou victory wouldn’t mark the first time a former heavyweight champion fell victim to one of the numerous upsets, but it would be one of the more memorable underdog victories. Here are a few of the sport’s best thus far.

Remembering the greatest heavyweight boxing upsets

Buster Douglas TKOs “Iron” Mike Tyson

Tyson was the most feared man on the planet in 1990. He had a record of 37-0 with 33 KOs and was fighting for the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring heavyweight titles when he met Douglas, a 6-foot-4 fighter with a record of 29-4-1 (19 KOs).

landing quick jabs to keep Tyson away from the inside and throwing punishing power shots

Pundits believed that Tyson was going to crush the seventh-ranked heavyweight contender, who was given betting odds of 42-1 (+4200 – 2.3% implied probability). But Douglas showed from the opening moments that he envisioned the fight differently, landing quick jabs to keep Tyson away from the inside and throwing punishing power shots when given the window.

Just about a month after his mother passed away and in the 10th round, Douglas floored Tyson with a fierce uppercut that sent him stumbling backward. He pounced on the wounded champion and landed four shots to the head, putting him on the canvas for the first time in his career. Tyson attempted to get back to his feet but did not make the count, and the greatest of all upsets in heavyweight boxing was secured.

Boxing’s “Cinderella Man” delivers

James J. Braddock, a poor man from New Jersey who outlasted the Great Depression and rose to heavyweight champion of the world, was a +1000 (9.1% chance) underdog against champion Max Baer when the pair set their sights on a June 1935 fight date.

Braddock had a rugged style and was past his peak as a fighter with 27 career losses. Meanwhile, Baer was taller, stronger, smoother, more powerful, and more dominant. 

Braddock earned a unanimous decision and received control of all three heavyweight titles

While many expected Baer, already the Ring, NBA, and NYSAC heavyweight champion, to steamroll his way past Braddock, the pair went through all 15 of the scheduled rounds and had their fate decided at the judges’ table. Braddock earned a unanimous decision and received control of all three heavyweight titles, which he retained for two years until he lost to Joe Louis.

Muhammad Ali beats Sonny Liston…twice

Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was just 22 years old and already an Olympic champion when he locked eyes on Liston, the most feared man of the time. Johnny Tocco, a trainer who also helped George Foreman and Mike Tyson, said that Liston was the hardest hitter of the three, and he was arguably even scarier than Tyson in his prime.

The young challenger was given little chance as a +800 underdog after he’d been knocked down and narrowly edged out a couple of decisions on the judges’ scorecards against lesser-tier opponents earlier in his career. But that didn’t stop him from his customary verbal gymnastics and pre-fight headline-making.

Liston came out enraged and looked for a knockout of the smaller, younger Clay, only to quickly find out that he did not have the speed to keep up with his young opponent. Controversy arose in the middle of the fight when Clay claimed that Liston smeared his gloves in a substance that caused his eyes to burn and for him to lose his vision.

Undeterred, Clay continued his assault until Liston’s corner threw in the towel, citing a shoulder injury suffered during training. That set up a rematch between the two, as Liston did not believe that Clay was the better fighter.

However, that fight also ended in controversy. Clay, now Ali, landed a right-handed shot in the first round that sent Liston clattering to the ground, though the shot came so quickly and subtly that many in the crowd did not even notice it. 

The referee did not pick up the count as he attempted to usher Ali back to his corner, leaving the timekeeper to handle those duties. There was no microphone or easy way for the pair to communicate, but it was ultimately decided that Liston did not meet the ten-second window to arise, and Ali was declared victorious.

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