Drake couldn’t do something for Jake Paul.
The Youtuber-turned-boxer joked about falling victim to the famous Drake curse following his defeat to Tommy Fury via a split-decision Monday.
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Prior to the bout, the rapper revealed on social media that he placed a $400,000 USD ($A597k) bet on Paul to win by knockout against Fury, the NY Post reports.
“F**k. This is Drake’s fault,” Paul said in a sarcastic tone after hearing about the bet in the post-fight press conference. “Drake, bro, why did you do this to me?”
Paul then went on to apologise for failing the rapper: “It’s my fault. $400,000 is nothing to him. He has won a lot more money betting on me before. He’s probably about even now.”
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Drake has been known to brutally curse those he’s rooted for – excluding the 2019 NBA Champion Raptors.
According to The Daily Mail, the “Honestly, Nevermind” rapper has won just one of his seven Super Bowl bets.
Paul’s loss, the first of his pro career, puts him at a 6-1 record. The 23-year-old Fury, meanwhile, continues to build his pro resume as he follows in the footsteps of his older half-brother, legendary heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury.
Paul said following the bout the two will face each other again. The fight had a rematch clause if Fury won.
“Sorry, Drake,” Paul said. “I’ll get that W in the rematch.”
Paul admitted after the fight that Fury deserved to win the contest, but also appeared to make excuses.
“I felt flat in there. I was really sick twice in this camp and I hurt my arm,” he said in the ring.
“I am not making excuses, but I was not 100 per cent. We want to run it back.”
Paul said after the fight he’d “already won in life.”
“I’ve won in every single way,” he said.
“I’ll take it on the chin and come back.”
Social media blew off during the fight, with criticism of the apparent over-involvement of the refereeing.
Sports journalist Josh Bunting called the referee “absolutely mental” and “insane”, while MMA Fighting news editor Damon Martin said the referee wanted to be “part of the show”.
News Corp journalist Jamie Pandaram called the referee “rubbish”.
Paul’s reputation has been put to the sword on social media after the fact, with many people noting his previous undefeated record came against part-time fighters and other content creators, rather than full-time professionals.
Sportswriter Zain Bando said he was “glad the Jake Paul hype train has died”.
Former professional boxer and pundit Carl Froch was scathing, saying “(Paul) can’t call himself a professional boxer.”
“He’s bringing discredit and disgust to the world of professional boxing,” Froch said.
“He wasn’t really in the fight, let’s be honest,” he said.
Journalist Phillip O’Connor asked on Twitter: “Has anyone informed Jake Paul that there’s a punch in boxing called ‘the jab’ which is surprisingly useful?”
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Ex-world champion Charlie Edwards also told Paul to walk away from professional boxing.
He said: “I am totally giving him credit mate!
“I take my hat off to him, 23 with the whole world watching and the pressure of having a new born baby. Got to give him credit.
“But still be realistic about becoming a world champion. He should just keep fighting these fight and getting paid.”
Former world champion Liam Smith was also scathing.
“Two absolute novices,” he Tweeted.
“Thank f*** the one who’s classed as a boxer won.
“Hard on Tommy cos his Fury name, but, he should stick in that market with jake n Logan Paul, KSI, all that type of misfits boxing and earn a lump of money.”
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Former NRL star and boxer Sonny Bill Williams said “love him or hate him, he’s still the guy in these all of you paying to watch.”