Terence Crawford, an undefeated boxing champion, addressed UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s recent statement that he could knock Crawford out in a boxing match. The exchange happened as Crawford prepares for his undisputed super middleweight title fight against Canelo Alvarez on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford brushed off Topuria’s words, suggesting the UFC star was intoxicated when he made them. Topuria’s comment followed Crawford naming Cody Garbrandt as the best boxer in MMA, igniting a cross-sport feud.
Crawford Fires Back at Topuria
Crawford said:
“That dude’s drunk. A lot of MMA guys, they drink a lot, so he must have been on that alcohol that day.”
He praised Garbrandt, adding, “There’s a few other people, but Cody is just one that always stuck out to me, before we were even friends. I looked at him and was like, ‘Man, this dude can box.’”
Crawford’s main focus is Canelo, where he aims to become the first male boxer to win undisputed titles in three weight classes. The fight, streamed on Netflix, features Canelo defending his WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, The Ring, and TBRB belts at 168 pounds.
Crawford’s Confidence and Legacy
Crawford expressed strong belief in his preparation for the Canelo fight, saying:
“I’m 1000 percent sure, now. You’ve got to think, going into a fight, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You could get injuries, he could get injuries. There are so many things that go on in a boxing match, the judges, the ref, preparation. So you’re not 100 percent sure. If a fighter says I’m 1000 percent sure, they’re lying, because you have to go out there and perform at the end of the day. And I’m more than ready to go out there and perform this Saturday.”
He addressed the stakes, stating:
“I don’t think losing tarnishes me or Canelo’s legacy. I think that Canelo is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and I think that I’m a first-ballot Hall of Famer. So whether win, lose, or draw, both of us are going into the Hall of Fame, and that’s the ultimate goal at the end of the day, to be named with all the great fighters that came before us, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for all that we’ve done in the sport of boxing.”
Terence Crawford says Ilia Topuria “must’ve been on that alcohol” with his prediction of a quick KO if they shared the boxing ring. 😬 pic.twitter.com/3koW0DisEj
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2025
Terence “Bud” Crawford turned pro in 2008. Undefeated at 41-0 with 31 knockouts, he’s a four-division champion, winning undisputed titles at light welterweight in 2017 against Julius Indongo and welterweight in 2023 with a ninth-round stoppage of Errol Spence Jr. His last fight was a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024, at 154 pounds. Key wins include Shawn Porter in 2021, Kell Brook in 2020, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2019. Crawford, ranked #3 pound-for-pound by The Ring, moves to 168 pounds for the first time.
Cross-sport rivalries have fueled debates. In 2017, Floyd Mayweather defeated Conor McGregor in a boxing match, setting pay-per-view records but criticized for being one-sided. In 2023, Francis Ngannou nearly upset Tyson Fury in a boxing bout, earning respect. In 2024, Nate Diaz lost to Jake Paul in the ring, showing MMA fighters’ challenges in boxing.
