The infamous “Drake Curse” has claimed another victim, as Canadian superstar Drake reportedly lost $200,000 (approximately ₦296 million) betting on Jake Paul to defeat Anthony Joshua.
In the early hours of Saturday, December 20, 2025, Anthony Joshua reasserted his dominance in the heavyweight division, delivering a brutal sixth-round knockout to the YouTuber-turned-boxer at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Joshua’s experience was the clear difference, as he dismantled Paul’s defense and ended the fight with a devastating right hand.
The Losing Wager
Prior to the bout, Drake took to his Instagram story to flaunt his high-stakes bet via the crypto-betting platform Stake. Sharing a screenshot of the wager, he captioned it: “Jakeyyyyy boy, lock tf in.” Had the massive upset occurred, Drake stood to win a staggering $1.64 million (over ₦2.4 billion). Instead, the loss adds to a mounting list of failed sports bets for the rapper.
History of the “Drake Curse”
The loss to Joshua marks another chapter in what fans call the “Drake Curse”—a superstition that any athlete or team the rapper supports is destined to lose. This year alone, Drake has faced significant financial hits:
US Open 2025: Lost $300,000 (₦451 million) after backing Jannik Sinner, who was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
NFL Season: Lost $250,000 backing the Baltimore Ravens against the Buffalo Bills.
Tyson vs. Paul (2024): Lost $355,000 after betting on Mike Tyson to beat Jake Paul.
