Olympics: Men's 51kg Boxing Betting Preview

Uzbekistan's Hasanboy Dusmatov is chasing a second gold medal of his Olympic career in the men's 51kg boxing at Paris 2024. 

We take a look at the key contenders for glory in the sport's lightest male category this summer.

Hasanboy Dusmatov (7/4)

The 31-year-old is one of many fighters competing in this summer's games having already entered the professional ranks. Dusmatov is 6-0 as a pro, winning five inside the distance, but is also looking to land Olympic gold for a second time this summer. 

The talented Uzbek came out on top in Rio at light-flyweight eight years ago before turning professional three years later. However, a rule change before the Rio Games allowed professionals to continue competing in the Olympics, allowing Dusmatov another shot at a gold medal in Paris.

His amateur career has been glittering to say the least. Alongside his medal in Brazil, Dusmatov also won gold at the 2023 World Amateur Championships in his home country. He also won gold at the Asian Games in 2022 and is a three-time Asian Champion. Dusmatov's amateur record currently stands at a staggering 120-13.

It should therefore not come as a surprise that Dusmatov comes in favourite (7/4) to land a second gold medal this summer. However, Dusmatov's last two meetings with second-favourite Amit Panghal have ended in defeat for the Uzbek, though their overall head-to-head record is 2-2.

Above: Dusmatov (left) competes at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Amit Panghal (11/4)

Panghal remains the only Indian fighter to have won silver at a World Championships following his success in 2019. He also entered the professional ranks back in 2014 but lost a ten-round unanimous decision but hasn't fought in the paid ranks since, opting to focus on his amateur exploits. 

His heroics at the Championships in Russia weren't his only success as an amateur. Panghal also boasts a gold medal from the 2018 Asian Games at light-flyweight, beating Dusmatov in the final after losing their two previous meetings.

A move up to flyweight again saw him emerge victorious against Dusmatov in a quarter-final meeting en route to securing gold at the Asian Championships in 2019. His silver in Russia later that year carried him to number one in the AIBA rankings at flyweight but a disappointing showing saw him bow out of his first Olympics during the first round in Tokyo two years later.

Nevertheless, Panghal has since rebounded by securing gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham two years ago. His success in the amateur ranks could make backing him at a generous 11/4 an incredibly astute pick come the end of the Games in Paris. 

Above: Panghal celebrates his victory over Dusmatov in the final of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Saken Bibossinov (37/10)

Kazakhstan's Bibossinov is a distant third favourite to secure gold in the French capital but also boasts an impressive amateur resume. Unlike the two fighters already discussed, Bibossinov has only fought within the amateur ranks. 

The 27-year-old has already competed at an Olympic Games, winning bronze in Tokyo three years ago. A defeat to Panghal in the semi-finals of the World Championships in 2019 was followed by Bibossinov securing gold two years later, beating America's Roscoe Hill in the final. 

Standing at 5'6" tall, the Kazakh boasts a considerable advantage in height and feet over both Dusmatov and Panghal. However, his 2021 victory over Dusmatov remains his sole victory in five combined meetings with the pair. 

Nevertheless, coming in at a best price of just short of 4/1 could make Bibossinov a strong outsider pick. He still possesses a wealth of experience in the unpaid ranks and boasts a medal at the previous Games. The two fighters listed above remain more likely to secure gold in Paris, though. 

Above: Bibossinov competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo three years ago, where he'd eventually pickup a bronze medal. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

Roscoe Hill (10/1)

Hill qualified for the Summer Games after emerging victorious at the Second Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand. The 29-year-old already boasts a wealth of pedigree in the sport courtesy of his father Roscoe Hill Sr, who himself was a former fighter who trained alongside heavyweight icon and 1968 gold medalist George Foreman.

Hill Jr grew up training in Foreman's gym and has gone from strength-to-strength ever since. The American won silver at the 2021 World Championships in Belgrade, losing to Bibossinov in the final.

He has since claimed bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games, but picking up gold in Paris would be by far his biggest achievement to date in his amateur career. This is reflected in the betting odds, where he comes in as a firm outsider at a best price of 10/1.

Above: Hill celebrates qualifying for his first Olympic Games following a qualification tournament in Bangkok. (Photo Credit: Alamy Images)

OddsNow's Best Bet for the 51kg Division

Hasanboy Dusmatov to win Gold @ 7/4 (Sky Bet)