Terence Crawford Rejects Ilia Topuria Challenge: “Clout Chaser”
After Terence Crawford’s impressive victory over Canelo Álvarez, a new challenger has spoken up. However, Crawford shows no interest in this challenge. Ilia Topuria, undefeated UFC champion in two categories and with aspirations in boxing, has expressed his desire to face Crawford, the undisputed champion in three divisions. Topuria used social media to suggest that he would knock out Crawford in a boxing ring, to which Crawford responded with disdain, calling him “delusional” and “drunk”. The controversy intensified when Topuria criticized Crawford’s choice to enter the ring with “Canción del Mariachi” from the movie “Desperado”, a song that Topuria also uses in his octagon presentations.Crawford not only dismissed Topuria’s comments, but also called him a “clout chaser” who “is not at the level” of Conor McGregor. During an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show”, Crawford stated: “I definitely think he’s looking for attention. I definitely think he would get in the ring with me for the check. That’s what we all do it for, but at the same time, I don’t know what the f— he’s doing. I don’t know what he’s thinking. There’s nothing to talk about.” Crawford added that he has never seen Topuria fight and questioned why the UFC champion did not express his desire to fight when they met at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas a few months ago. “When he saw me in the UFC, he came to shake my hand and say hello. He didn’t even know who I was,” Crawford said. “But then I see him on the internet talking about how he’ll knock me out in the first round and this and that. And now this. Well, if you wanted to fight me, you had the opportunity to tell me, ‘Hey man, I want to fight you. What’s up?’ That’s fake.” Despite the financial success of crossover fights between boxing and MMA, Crawford sees no value in a fight with “El Matador” and dismissed any comparison to the 2017 matchup between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and McGregor. “What money would I get from fighting him? Tell me how much I’m going to get from fighting him,” Crawford asked. “He’s not even close to Conor McGregor’s level. Let’s be realistic. Enough. Don’t even compare him to Conor… Like I said, I don’t know this guy. I’ve never seen this guy fight, and I watch a lot of MMA.” “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he’s a good fighter. I don’t know. But honestly, I’ve never seen this guy fight. And I’ve seen Conor McGregor fight many times… Don’t you ever try to say they’re on the same level.”First he calls me a drunk, then he uses MY song. Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring. And Canelo, I’ll save a round for you after him.
Ilia Topuria
