Crawford calls Topuria a “fame seeker” after boxing challenge

Ilia Topuria Challenges Terence Crawford: Clash in the Ring?

After Terence Crawford’s impressive victory over Canelo Álvarez, a new challenger has spoken up. However, Crawford doesn’t seem interested in this challenge. Ilia Topuria, undefeated UFC champion in two categories and with an interest 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 match, to which Crawford responded by calling him “delusional” and “drunk”. The controversy intensified when Topuria criticized Crawford’s ring entrance with “Canción del Mariachi”, a song that Topuria also uses. Crawford downplayed the comparison, but Topuria reacted on social media.

First he calls me a drunk, then he comes out with 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.

Ilia Topuria

Crawford not only ignored Topuria’s challenges, but also accused him of seeking attention and stated that he is not at Conor McGregor’s level. During an interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show”, Crawford stated: “I definitely think he’s looking for attention. I think he would get in the ring with me for the check. We all do it for that, but at the same time, I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t know what he’s thinking. There’s nothing to talk about.” Crawford revealed 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. Crawford added: “When he saw me in the UFC, he came to shake my hand and say hello. I didn’t even know who he was. But then I see him online talking about how he’s going to knock me out in the first round and this and that. If you wanted to fight me, you had the opportunity to say to me: ‘Hey, I want to fight you. What’s up?’. That’s fake.”

Although the fights between boxing and MMA have generated significant revenue, Crawford sees no value in a fight with “El Matador” and ruled out any comparison with the confrontation between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and McGregor in 2017.

“How much money would I get fighting him? Tell me how much I’m going to get for fighting him,” Crawford asked. “He’s not even close to Conor McGregor’s level. Let’s be realistic. Don’t compare him to Conor… Like I said, I don’t know this guy. I’ve never seen him 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.”