Crawford Shuts Down Talk of Fighting Ilia Topuria: “He’s No Conor McGregor”

Undefeated boxing superstar Terence Crawford has dismissed any serious talk of a potential crossover fight with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, making it clear he doesn’t see the matchup as appealing or worthwhile. After defeating Canelo Alvarez to capture the super middleweight titles, Crawford is now firmly entrenched in boxing’s all-time great debate, but he isn’t entertaining every name that calls him out from outside the sport.

In particular, Crawford isn’t sold on Topuria as a crossover attraction, laughing off comparisons to Conor McGregor and labeling the UFC champion’s callouts as little more than “clout chasing.”

Crawford’s Legacy Elevated After Canelo Victory

Terence Crawford’s recent unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez was one of the most significant victories of his career. By defeating Alvarez, Crawford not only added the Mexican superstar’s super middleweight belts to his already impressive résumé but also cemented his case in the discussion for the greatest of all time (GOAT) in boxing.

The win kept Crawford’s perfect record intact and proved his ability to step up against one of the sport’s biggest names. For many, it was the ultimate validation of his dominance across multiple weight classes. However, as is often the case when a boxer achieves such monumental success, new challengers from outside the sport have emerged to test his legacy.

Ilia Topuria Enters the Picture

While Crawford was preparing for his showdown with Alvarez, UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria began to direct verbal jabs his way. Topuria, who captured the lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, has rapidly gained notoriety as one of the UFC’s most dangerous strikers. Confident in his knockout power, the Georgian-Spanish star boldly claimed he would “knock out Crawford in the first round” if the two were ever to meet inside a boxing ring.

Crawford initially brushed off the remarks but acknowledged the callouts became louder in the aftermath of his historic win over Alvarez. For fans eager to see another MMA vs. boxing spectacle like Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, the idea of Crawford vs. Topuria sparked some curiosity. But Crawford himself was quick to shut it down.

Crawford: “I’ve Never Seen Him Fight”

During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Crawford was asked about his exchanges with Topuria and whether he would consider stepping into the ring with him. His answer was blunt.

“To be honest, I’ve never seen [Ilia] fight,” Crawford admitted. “I didn’t even know who he was. When I saw him at the UFC, he came up and shook my hand, said ‘What’s up’ to me. I didn’t even know who he was, but then I saw him online talking about he’d knock me out in the first round. Well if you want to fight me, you had the opportunity to tell me ‘I want to fight you’. And that’s fake.”

Crawford went on to criticize the way Topuria issued his challenge, calling it a classic case of clout chasing. “If I want to fight someone, for whatever reason, I’d say ‘Hey what’s up man, what do you think about me and you fighting?’ I’m not going to go on a keyboard and go ‘I’ll knock this dude out’. I definitely think he’s trying to clout chase, he’d definitely get in the ring with me for the right check. But I don’t know what he’s thinking…he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“He’s No Conor McGregor”

Crawford was also asked if he would ever entertain a fight with Topuria given the UFC champion’s rising profile. His response made it clear he didn’t see the bout as worthwhile.

“For what? What money would I get out of fighting him?” Crawford asked rhetorically. “Please, he’s not nowhere near on the level of Conor McGregor. Don’t ever compare him to Conor. Conor was [high], and he’s [low]. I’ve never seen this guy fight, and I watch a lot of MMA, maybe I’m slipping. Maybe he’s a good fighter, keep up the good work in his career and I wish him the best.”

With those words, Crawford effectively closed the door on any crossover showdown with Topuria—at least for now. By invoking McGregor’s name, he underlined just how rare the Irishman’s star power was and why the 2017 Mayweather-McGregor bout generated astronomical interest and revenue. In Crawford’s eyes, Topuria doesn’t bring the same level of mainstream appeal or financial upside.

Topuria’s Rise in the UFC

While Crawford may not be impressed, there’s no denying that Ilia Topuria is becoming one of the fastest-rising stars in mixed martial arts. His emphatic knockout of former champion Charles Oliveira shocked many, and his undefeated record in the UFC has made him a feared competitor in the lightweight division.

Topuria blends sharp boxing with devastating knockout power, making his style particularly exciting for fans. His confidence has also contributed to his growing profile, as he has not hesitated to call out big names from both MMA and boxing. For him, a potential fight with Crawford would represent not only a financial opportunity but also a chance to test his striking against one of the best boxers in the world.

The Shadow of Mayweather vs. McGregor

The comparisons to Conor McGregor are inevitable whenever an MMA fighter teases a move to boxing. McGregor’s 2017 showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. generated staggering pay-per-view numbers and became one of the most talked-about combat sports events in history. Since then, fighters such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul have kept crossover fights in the spotlight.

However, as Crawford pointed out, not every MMA star has the same mainstream draw as McGregor. While Topuria is building momentum, he lacks the global recognition, larger-than-life personality, and years of headline-making that made McGregor such a crossover phenomenon. For Crawford, the financial calculus simply doesn’t add up.

What’s Next for Crawford and Topuria?

With Crawford shutting down the idea of a crossover fight, both men are likely to focus on their own sports for the foreseeable future. Crawford now holds multiple weight-class championships and has his sights set on defending his newly won super middleweight belts while strengthening his case as boxing’s GOAT.

Topuria, meanwhile, has a stacked lightweight division awaiting him in the UFC. Potential challengers such as Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje loom large as possible next opponents. For Topuria, solidifying his reign as lightweight champion will do far more to elevate his star power than chasing crossover fights with boxers who aren’t interested.

Conclusion

While some fans may have hoped to see Terence Crawford vs. Ilia Topuria become the next big MMA-boxing spectacle, Crawford has made his stance clear. He sees Topuria’s callouts as little more than clout chasing, dismisses comparisons to Conor McGregor, and doesn’t view the fight as financially or competitively worthwhile.

For now, Crawford will continue carving his legacy inside the boxing ring, while Topuria looks to build his own dominance in the UFC. Unless Topuria’s star power rises to McGregor-like levels, it seems unlikely this fantasy matchup will ever materialize.