Introduction
In a surprising turn of events following Terence Crawford’s recent triumph over Canelo Alvarez, where he secured the title of undisputed super middleweight champion, a new contender has boldly stepped forward. However, this challenger, UFC’s Ilia Topuria, appears to be off Crawford’s radar.
Topuria’s Challenge
The 28-year-old Topuria, who remains undefeated in two weight classes within the UFC, expressed his desire to enter the boxing arena and even issued a warning to Crawford on social media, claiming he would knock him out if they faced off. Crawford swiftly dismissed Topuria’s comments, labelling them the musings of a “delusional” and “drunk” fighter.
Escalating Tensions
The tensions escalated during the post-fight festivities on Saturday when Crawford entered the ring to the tune of “Canción del Mariachi,” a song that also serves as Topuria’s entrance music in UFC fights. Topuria voiced his displeasure over Crawford’s choice on social media, stating:
“First he calls drunk, then he walks out to MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring. And Canelo, I’ll save you a round after him.”
Crawford’s Response
Crawford responded to Topuria’s comments during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Monday, reiterating his lack of interest in a match-up with the UFC fighter. He accused Topuria of seeking publicity, declaring:
“I definitely think he’s trying to clout-chase. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I would — there ain’t even nothing to talk about.”
He further pointed out that he had never seen Topuria compete and questioned why the fighter didn’t communicate his interest in a match when they met at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas a couple of months prior. Crawford recalled:
“When he saw me at the UFC, he came up to shake my hand and say what’s up to me. I ain’t even know who he was. But then I see him online talking about how he’ll knock me out in the first round. That’s fake.”
Financial Considerations
Despite the financial allure that crossover bouts between boxing and MMA can provide, Crawford made it clear that he sees no merit in a fight with Topuria, dismissing any comparisons to the high-profile clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor from 2017. He stated:
“What money would I get out of fighting him? He’s nowhere near on the level of Conor McGregor. Let’s be real. Stop it.”
Crawford emphasized his unfamiliarity with Topuria’s fighting style, noting:
“I’ve honestly never seen this guy fight. And I watch a lot of MMA. Maybe I’m slipping. Maybe he’s a good fighter. I don’t know. But I’ve seen Conor McGregor fight a lot of times. Don’t ever try to say they’re on the same level.”
