Ilia Topuria, the UFC lightweight champion, grabbed attention, by claiming he’d knock out boxing star Terence Crawford in a ring. With Crawford set to face Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight title on September 13, 2025, in Las Vegas, Topuria expressed interest in fighting the winner. His confidence comes from his knockout power, shown in his recent UFC title win.
Topuria, known for sharp punches, believes he can challenge Crawford, a former undisputed welterweight champion, or Canelo, a multi-division boxing legend. The callout, made after meeting Crawford at the UFC Performance Institute in June 2025, has fans excited about a potential crossover fight.
Topuria’s Big Claim
“I won’t talk about what would happen between me and Crawford in an octagon,” Topuria wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ll talk about what would happen in a ring. I put him to sleep in the first contact!!”
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 !!— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) September 7, 2025
Who wins in a fight? pic.twitter.com/Ku7nxYE0Lv
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) September 6, 2025
Topuria, 28, stands 5’7” with a 69-inch reach and holds a 16-0 MMA record with 5 knockouts. He joined the UFC in 2020, debuting with a knockout over Youssef Zalal at UFC Fight Night 179. He won the featherweight title in 2024 by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and the lightweight title in 2025 against Charles Oliveira. Key wins include Max Holloway in 2024 and Bryce Mitchell in 2022. His striking, developed at Climent Club in Spain, pairs with wrestling and jiu-jitsu from his youth in Georgia.
Crawford, 37, stands 5’8” with a 74-inch reach and has a 41-0 boxing record with 31 knockouts. He won titles in lightweight (2014), super lightweight (2017), and welterweight (2023), becoming undisputed welterweight champion by defeating Errol Spence Jr. His latest win was a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in August 2024. Crawford faces Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) this weekend for the super middleweight title, moving up to 168 pounds.
Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, a key boxing promoter, could make this crossover happen, shaking up the fight game.
