Fans of Tyson Fury felt a wave of dread when Canadian rapper Drake announced his hefty bet on the British boxer to secure a victory on Saturday, May 18. Given Drake’s infamous betting streak, the anxiety was palpable.
The Drake curse is well-known in sports circles, marking yet another chapter of failure. Despite being embroiled in a high-profile diss track battle with Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, Drake managed to place a substantial bet on Fury.
The highly anticipated bout took place at the Ring of Fire event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tyson Fury faced Oleksandr Usyk to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Ultimately, Usyk emerged victorious in a split decision (115-112, 114-113, 114-113). With the win, he extended his undefeated record to 22-0. This victory crowned Usyk as the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years, adding to his previous title as undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Drake’s reaction to Fury’s loss is undoubtedly sour. Earlier in the week, he revealed on Instagram that he had wagered a staggering $565,000 (£444,000) on Fury. Fury was knocked down by Usyk in the ninth round, dimming his chances of a comeback.
Drake’s loss of over half a million dollars might not significantly impact his wealth, but it’s still a hefty blow. The rapper was one judge’s scorecard away from winning nearly a million dollars, a sting most can only imagine.
The Fury vs. Usyk match was one for the history books. Fans witnessed a thrilling display of skill and endurance, with momentum shifting multiple times.
Fury had a slow start, allowing Usyk to dominate the early rounds with a series of precise left-handed shots. The middle rounds saw both exchanging blows. Usyk ended up landing several consecutive shots in the ninth round, leading to Fury’s staggering fall against the ropes.
The final rounds saw Fury making a valiant comeback, managing to control the bout in an attempt to secure a win by decision. Despite Fury’s resilience and fighting spirit, it was not enough to secure victory.
Tyson Fury says Oleksandr Usyk won because of sympathy over the Ukraine war? Fury presumably also showed sympathy by letting Usyk punch him in the face a whole bunch of times? #GracelessLoser
pic.twitter.com/oP8OsRAwTK— Unnamed Insider (@Unnamedinsider) May 19, 2024
Following the bout, Fury said that he thought he had won. He went on to say that the judges felt sorry for Usyk since Ukraine was at war with Russia at the time.
Fury stated: “His country is at war so people are siding with someone whose country is at war. I won that fight.”
Immediately after, Fury faced massive backlash on social media for his comment.
One fan stated: “Arrogant, shameless, unnecessary. Congrats to Usyk, who deserved the win #FuryUsyk”
Another commented: “Tyson Fury saying ‘Ukraine being at war cost him this decision’ might be one of the most deplorable things I’ve heard in post-fight interviews.”
