YouTube personality and professional boxer Jake Paul has jokingly blamed rapper Drake — real name Aubrey Drake Graham — for his loss to Tommy Fury.
Drake, who has a reputation of cursing major sports teams with his high-stakes wagers, lost $400,000 betting on Paul in his fight on Sunday night. Ending in a split decision, it marked the YouTube star’s first professional defeat.
Upon hearing Drake had lost big betting on him, Paul quipped:
F*ck this is Drake’s fault.”
Paul, however, isn’t actually blaming the music star for incurring the so-called ‘Drake curse,’ instead admitting full responsibility for losing. He even promised the rapper that he would win a rematch with Fury, asserting: “Sorry Drake, I’m going to get that W in the rematch.” He acknowledged that the loss was a humbling experience and said he would “take it on the chin and come back.”
Paul had Fury on the canvas with a short left hand early in the final round of the eight-round cruiserweight match up. Despite this, Fury remained in easy control for long stretches of the bout.
Paul’s loss gives more ammunition to boxing traditionalists who think the social media star is ruining their sport. Fury was the first fighter with an actual boxing background Paul has faced, raising questions about the controversial star’s future in the sport.