Drake faced another significant gambling loss on Saturday night after betting $565,000 on Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian fighter defeated Fury by split decision in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years. Usyk added Fury’s WBC title to his existing WBA, IBF, and WBO belts with a spectacular late rally, including a ninth-round knockdown in a thrilling bout between the two previously unbeaten heavyweight champions.
For Drake, the loss was a harsh blow. He had taken to Instagram earlier on Saturday to reveal his high-stakes bet on Fury, which would have earned him just over $1 million had Fury prevailed. Instead, Drake’s wager joined a series of high-profile betting losses, leading fans on social media to joke about the “Drake curse.”
Drake has a history of betting big and losing. Previously, he lost a six-figure sum after Anthony Joshua’s knockout win over Francis Ngannou and another $700,000 after Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Despite these losses, Drake has seen some success in gambling, particularly with the Super Bowl, as well as in basketball, baseball, and hockey.
The fight itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. Two judges favored Usyk, scoring 115-112 and 114-113, while the third judge gave the fight to Fury with a score of 114-113. Usyk started strong but had to weather a storm as the confident, charismatic Fury dominated the middle rounds. However, Usyk surged in the final rounds, taking control with a dominant eighth round and nearly stopping Fury in the ninth. Usyk’s left hand hurt Fury, eventually sending him sprawling into a corner in the final seconds of the round, earning a knockdown just before Fury was saved by the bell.
Fury struggled to mount a consistent attack after nearly being stopped, and the knockdown proved to be the decisive factor in the judges’ decision. In an emotional post-fight moment, Usyk thanked his team and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. “Thank you so much to my team,” Usyk said while fighting back tears in the ring. “It´s a big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country. Slava Ukraine!”
As for Drake, his loss adds to the narrative of his risky betting behavior. While he has seen wins in other sports, his recent losses in high-profile fights continue to draw attention. Fans will be watching to see if Drake’s luck will turn in future bets or if the “Drake curse” will continue to haunt him.