Canadian rapper Drake has reportedly lost about ₦300 million ($200,000) bet on Jake Paul defeating Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight bout in Miami on Friday night.
Ahead of the fight, Drake shared a screenshot on his Instagram stories showing a $200,000 wager on Paul at odds of over 8-to-1. Had the bet paid off, it would have earned the rapper a return of $1.64 million. Instead, Joshua stopped Paul with a sixth-round knockout, leaving Drake on the losing side once again.
Read Also: Canadian rapper Drake loses N715m bet on Israel Adesanya fight
The defeat has further fuelled the long-running internet superstition known as the “Drake Curse,” a theory suggesting that athletes or teams he supports are often jinxed to lose. Posting his wager on what he described as a potential “biggest upset in sports history,” Drake wrote: “Jakeyyyyy boy. Lock in.”
Drake’s betting misfortune is well documented. He reportedly lost $355,000 after backing boxing legend Mike Tyson to beat Paul last November and also dropped $1.2 million when Paul lost to Tommy Fury in 2023.
The renowned rapper has become notorious for placing large wagers on major sporting events, including high-profile boxing and UFC fights. His decision to back Paul against Joshua was another high-risk punt that ended in disappointment.
The superstition surrounding Drake’s betting habits has even been acknowledged by Joshua himself. Before the fight, the former world heavyweight champion joked that he had “banned” Drake from being backstage.
Speaking to ESPN, Joshua said, “I know I shouldn’t. You know about the Drake curse? It’s real. We took a picture before Jarrell Miller got banned, and then Miller failed a drug test, and the fight got cancelled.”
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
