<p>Both end the fight early, but the distinction matters for betting markets and fight records.</p> <p>Both end a fight early. Both go down as stoppage wins. But a KO and a TKO aren't the same thing, and if you're betting method of victory, the difference matters.</p> <p>Put simply: a knockout means a fighter went down and couldn't beat the ten-count. A technical knockout means someone (referee, doctor, corner) decided the fight needed to stop before that count ever happened.</p> <p>Deontay Wilder face-down on the canvas in Vegas? KO. Kell Brook's corner throwing in the towel against Golovkin? TKO.</p> <h2>What counts as a KO?</h2> <p>A knockout happens when a boxer hits the deck and can't get back up before the referee reaches ten. Regardless of what some movies tell us, they don't need to be unconscious - they only need to be unable to rise and show they're fit to continue.</p> <p>Some knockouts are spectacular. Wilder's right hand has left opponents out cold before they hit the floor. Others, however, are a lot scrappier: a hurt fighter trying to stand, legs betraying them, the count running out while they're still on one knee. For a look at some of the most dramatic finishes in the sport, check out the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/fastest-knockouts-boxing-history">fastest knockouts in boxing history</a>.</p> <p>You'll sometimes see a standing eight count before a knockout. The referee stops the action, counts to eight, and checks if the fighter can continue.</p> <p>If they can't recover, the ref waves it off and - technically - that becomes a TKO since there was no knockdown and failed ten-count.</p> <h2>What counts as a TKO?</h2> <p>A technical knockout happens when the fight is stopped without a completed ten-count. The losing fighter is usually still conscious, often still on their feet, but somebody with authority has seen enough.</p> <p>Referees step in when a boxer can't defend themselves anymore. You've seen it: a fighter pinned against the ropes, eating shots, not throwing back, not moving. The ref jumps between them and it's over.</p> <p>Corner stoppages count as TKOs too. Trainers know their fighters better than anyone, and sometimes the bravest call is throwing in the towel between rounds.</p> <p>When Ricky Hatton's corner pulled him out against Manny Pacquiao, that went down as a TKO, even though Hatton wanted to continue.</p> <p>Ringside doctors can also halt fights. A bad cut over the eye, a suspected injury, anything that makes continuing dangerous. And in many jurisdictions, three knockdowns in a single round triggers an automatic TKO. The fighter hasn't failed a ten-count, but the cumulative damage is enough.</p> <h2>The core difference between KO and TKO in boxing</h2> <p>It comes down to the ten-count.</p> <p>KO: fighter goes down, can't beat the count. TKO: fight stopped by referee, doctor, or corner before any count finishes, or without a knockdown at all.</p> <p>Both result in a stoppage victory. When you see a record like "25 wins, 20 by knockout," those 20 usually include both KOs and TKOs lumped together. Some record-keepers separate them, most don't. Either way, a stoppage is a stoppage.</p> <h2>Other early endings in boxing</h2> <p>Not every premature finish is a knockout of any kind.</p> <p>A disqualification happens when a fighter breaks the rules badly enough - so, think repeated low blows, intentional headbutts, biting. The other fighter wins, but it's not a knockout on their record.</p> <p>A corner retirement between rounds (sometimes listed as RTD) is similar to a TKO, and some commissions record it that way. Others keep it separate. The practical effect is identical: fight over, one fighter wins by stoppage.</p> <p>A no contest gets called when an accidental foul ends the fight too early for the scorecards to count. Nobody wins, nobody loses. It's as if the fight never happened.</p> <h2>How this affects your bets</h2> <p>Most method of victory markets group KO and TKO together. You'll see "Fighter A by KO/TKO" as a single option, meaning any stoppage win counts. If you back that line and the corner throws in the towel in round eight, you cash. If you're new to wagering on fights, our <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-boxing">guide to betting on boxing</a> covers the basics.</p> <p>Round betting doesn't care about the mechanism either. Back Fighter A to win in Round 6, and whether it's a clean knockout or a referee stoppage, you're paid if the fight ends in that round.</p> <p>"Goes the Distance" is the opposite play, since you're betting neither fighter gets stopped. Any KO or TKO sinks it. Doesn't matter how the stoppage happens, only that it does.</p> <p>One thing to watch: disqualifications usually settle separately from KO/TKO markets. If your fighter wins by DQ, your KO/TKO bet likely loses. Always check the house rules. You can find the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/boxing">boxing betting odds</a> for upcoming fights.</p> <h3>Does the type of stoppage matter on a fighter's record?</h3> <p>Officially, no. A stoppage loss is a stoppage loss. But perception is different. Fans tend to remember a clean knockout (lights out, flat on the back) more vividly than a corner retirement. Rightly or wrongly, getting sparked carries a certain stigma that a TKO doesn't always.</p> <p>For the winner, it barely matters. Twenty stoppages look good whether they came from one-punch power or relentless pressure that forced corners to intervene. The record books don't distinguish.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <p><strong>Is a TKO worse than a KO on a fighter's record?</strong></p> <p>Not officially. Both count as stoppage losses. Some fans view a KO as more definitive, but records treat them equally.</p> <p><strong>Can a fighter win by KO without knocking their opponent down?</strong></p> <p>No. A pure KO requires a knockdown and failed ten-count. If the referee stops the fight with a fighter still standing, it's a TKO.</p> <p><strong>Do KO/TKO bets include disqualification?</strong></p> <p>Usually no. DQ is typically a separate outcome. Check the specific market rules, as some bookies handle this differently.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/why-boxers-hug-clinching-during-fights">The art of the clinch and why fighters do it</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/boxing-weight-classes-guide">From flyweight to heavyweight — every division explained</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/highest-paid-boxing-matches">The paydays that changed boxing forever</a></li> </ul>