UFC champion Ilia Topuria claimed he would knock out Terence Crawford if they met in a boxing ring – and the latter has now responded
Terence Crawford has hit back at UFC star Ilia Topuria after he claimed he would knock out the boxing legend.
Crawford is preparing to take on Canelo Alvarez in one of the biggest fights in boxing history in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Victory over the super-middleweight world champion would see Crawford become a three-weight undisputed champion.
But he was called out for a very different challenge this week when Topuria took aim at Crawford. “Who wins in a fight?” he asked on social media while sharing a picture of himself and Crawford.
“I won’t talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon, I’ll talk about what would happen in a ring. I put him to sleep in the first contact.”
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Asked about Topuria’s boast, Crawford did not hold back, accusing his new rival of being drunk. “That dude is drunk,” he said. “You know, a lot of MMA guys; they drink a lot. So he must have been on the alcohol on that day.”
Crawford is moving up two weight divisions to take on Alvarez and the American believes his rival is under pressure not to lose to a fighter who dominated at lighter weights.
“Canelo don’t want to lose to a guy moving up two weight classes,” he told AP. “You know, he don’t want a smaller guy dethroning him from his undisputed status.
“Terence Crawford wants to move up and do all those things. He’s got a lot to lose, I got a lot to win. I got a lot to lose, he’s got a lot to win.”
Crawford also took aim at those who doubt whether he can withstand Alvarez’s power as he moves up two weight divisions. “I haven’t never been down yet in my professional career, so they can question it all they want,” he added. Have I been hurt? Yes, I have. Has he been hurt? Yes, he has, you know, it is what it is. Let’s just figure it out on the night.
“First and foremost, I’m definitely going to win. I’m winning the fight for sure. But at the same time, I don’t think losing tarnishes either of our legacies. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and I think I’m a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“Win, lose or draw, I think that’s the ultimate goal at the end of the day. To be named with all the great fighters who came before us and be inducted into the Hall of Fame for all we’ve done in the sport of boxing.”