Drake is no stranger to putting big money on high-profile fights and lost a $615,000 bet after Joshua knocked out former UFC champion Ngannou
Drake lost a massive $600,000 bet after Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in their heavyweight clash.
The award-winning rapper first gained notoriety for betting on matches two years ago and has since racked up some big wins and losses. Drake’s latest six-figure bet was placed on former UFC champion Ngannou to beat Joshua and would have won just under $2 million if the bet paid off.
Joshua got off to a strong start as he did what Tyson Fury couldn’t by putting Ngannou down in the opening round when he landed a big right hand. Ngannou was able to compose himself and get back to his feet, but was dropped again in the next round with the same shot. ‘AJ’ closed the show moments later with another thunderous right hand that knocked Ngannou out cold.
“It is what it is. What I said was on the road to the championship, you always have to be focused and that’s what I walked away from this mission. But when I saw the fight with him and Tyson Fury, I was like ‘Damn’ that guy can fight.’
“I told him [Ngannou] that he shouldn’t leave boxing, he can go far if he stays committed but it’s up to him. The Ben Davison Performance Centre. I appreciate them [my team] a lot, all these guys who have helped so far. I’m still learning and pushing. He just needs a shot at heavyweight.”
One of Drake’s biggest bets last year was on YouTube boxer Logan Paul to KO Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis in their Misfits Boxing match. The rapper won $1.3 million after Danis was eliminated in the final round for trying to choke Paul unconscious, causing a huge brawl to break out in the ring.
Just a month before this fight, Drake missed out on a $920,000 payout after Joshua and Ngannou’s close friend Israel Adesanya lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland. Drake was setting up Adesanya to knock out Strickland in their world title clash, but Strickland pulled off a huge reversal to win on points.