Drake and the Curse: How his bet on Ngannou Backfired

Drake’s bold bet on Francis Ngannou against Anthony Joshua resulted in a six-figure loss, adding to the fabled “Drake curse.” On Friday (March 8), reports began circulating of the massive bet Drake placed with Stake in favor of Nigerian UFC sensation winning over the British boxing icon during their anticipated match-up in Saudi Arabia.

In an Instagram post, Drake shared the details of his bet, firmly standing on his belief that Ngannou was the more formidable opponent featured in the bout in the process.

“Betting on a scary man,” Drizzy wrote in the caption of the screenshot of the @stake bet he placed, which would’ve flipped his bet into a staggering $1,906,500 had Ngannou emerged victorious.

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Drake ended up eating his words, along with a $615,000 loss, after Ngannou was knocked out in the second round. The former UFC heavyweight champion’s demise sequence was quite the spectacle to watch as well, as Ngannou took a tumble to the canvas following an ill-timed jab and an eight-second count from the referee.

Upon regaining his balance, Ngannou was knocked directly off of his feet immediately by a major right-hand blow Joshua dealt to the head. Ngannou, known for his formidable knockout power in the UFC, boasts an impressive record of 17 wins, 12 by knockout, with only three losses.

Ngannou’s professional boxing record is not nearly as impressive, as he’s currently zero and two due to his previous loss to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. While Ngannou lost to Fury, his loss came as a decision rather than a knockout.

On the other side, Anthony Joshua, a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion, carries an almost surgically accurate record, highlighted by 24 wins, 22 of which came by knockout, and only three total losses. Drake’s confidence in Ngannou could stem from the fighter’s recent departure from the UFC, following a contentious contract dispute, and his expressed desire to test his mettle in boxing.

Joshua also may have been the underdog, despite his record, having faced a disappointing loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last August. The latest bet adds to the narrative of the so-called “Drake Curse,” a phenomenon where teams or athletes that the Canadian rapper publicly supports often fail to win their contests.

Professional boxer Jake Paul blamed Drizzy for his lost to Tommy Fury last year. Fans of Ngannou and sports bettors alike will be watching closely to see if Drake’s backing breaks the curse or adds another chapter to its folklore.

Check out the knockout below.