A Betting Tsunami That Nearly Swamped the House

Sportsbook giant DraftKings narrowly avoided a catastrophic nine-figure loss after a tidal wave of late money poured in on social media star Jake Paul ahead of his boxing match against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The fight, which took place in Saudi Arabia, saw Joshua secure a dominant second-round knockout victory.

The Perfect Storm of Public Sentiment

According to industry reports, the betting public was overwhelmingly convinced that Paul, the YouTube sensation turned professional boxer, had a legitimate chance to pull off a historic upset. This sentiment triggered a massive influx of wagers on the underdog in the hours leading up to the fight.

  • Late Money Flood: A staggering 90% of the total money wagered on the fight's outcome at DraftKings was placed on Jake Paul.
  • Odds Shift: The heavy betting action caused Paul's odds to shorten dramatically, moving him from a significant underdog to a much more competitive line.
  • Exposure Peak: At its peak, DraftKings' potential liability—the amount it stood to lose if Paul won—soared to nearly $100 million.

Joshua's Victory Saves the Day

Anthony Joshua's swift and decisive victory was a multi-million dollar relief for the sportsbook. His knockout win meant DraftKings only had to pay out the smaller portion of bets placed on the favorite, allowing the company to keep the vast majority of the money wagered on Paul. This event highlights the extreme volatility and risk sportsbooks face with high-profile, celebrity-driven events where public betting sentiment can diverge sharply from the likely outcome.