THISDAY

ICYMI: Drake’s Money Down the Drain Again

- Iyke Bede Drake

In a twist of fate, the notorious ‘Drake curse’ is back in the spotlight as the multi-talented Canadian rapper Drake placed and lost a substantia­l bet of $615,000 on Francis Ngannou for the highly anticipate­d face-off against Anthony Joshua in Riyadh.

The ‘Drake curse’ became a pervasive narrative in the world of sports, with athletes blaming losses on the rapper’s mere associatio­n. However, the recent Super Bowl victory seemingly debunked the curse, prompting Drake to boldly place his bets on the unpredicta­ble Ngannou.

Ngannou’s recent performanc­e against Tyson Fury added an unexpected element to the narrative. The MMA star’s early knockdown of the ‘Gypsy King’ in 2023 left many considerin­g him a formidable contender. However, the looming question remained if he could break the ‘Drake curse’ and secure a victory.

Notably, Anthony Joshua had once expressed reluctance to allow Drake into his dressing room, citing the curse as a potential jinx.

“If y’all telling me that (the Drake curse), I know I shouldn’t. [Do] you know about the ‘Drake Curse?’ it is crazy though. It is real though?” a puzzled Joshua said during a podcast.

As the fight night approached, fans of both Ngannou and Joshua were gripped by a mix of excitement and anxiety. Will Drake’s recent betting success extend to the MMA ring, or will his money go down the drain once again?

Drake would’ve made three times his initial wager if Francis Ngannou had won the fight, but betting against the best version of Anthony Joshua proved to be a tall order. Out of the $615,000 bet on Ngannou, Drake aimed to win exactly $1,906,500. Unfortunat­ely, the knockout suffered by Ngannou not only shook the combat sports world but also dealt a significan­t financial blow to Drake, who lost a fortune once again.

As the dust settled in Riyadh, Drake found himself on the losing end of a substantia­l fortune. The ‘Drake Curse’ prevailed, leaving fans and bettors to reflect on the unpredicta­ble twists and turns accompanyi­ng the rapper’s ventures into the world of sports betting.

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