Ilia Topuria Fancies Chances Against Ryan Garcia in Boxing Ring; WBC Champ Fires Back

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria lay down plans to potentially fight Ryan Garcia as part of a future boxing takeover.

Ilia Topuria Fancies Chances Against Ryan Garcia in Boxing Ring; WBC Champ Fires Back

Ilia Topuria calls out Ryan Garcia (via UFC, Yahoo Sports)

In Short
  • Ilia Topuria aims to transition into boxing, targeting a fight with WBC champion Ryan Garcia.
  • Topuria boasts a historic three-fight win streak in the UFC, including a recent knockout of Charles Oliveira.
  • Ryan Garcia has shifted focus to his upcoming title defense against Conor Benn after responding to Topuria's callout.

Ilia Topuria quickly rose to UFC superstardom through knockout power and elite striking inside the octagon. The Georgian-Spanish champion is riding what many consider a historic three-fight win streak. It includes knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. He has now also taken shots at WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, adding crossover attention to his rising global profile.

Topuria last fought in the UFC at UFC 317 in June 2025, scoring a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship. The result made him a two-division champion and the tenth fighter in UFC history to achieve that milestone. Since then, Topuria has been sidelined from competition amid reported legal proceedings related to his separation from ex-partner Giorgina Uzcategui.

The lightweight champion is back in the public eye to face interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. Podcasts and interviews show an increasing presence for him leading up to the event. He recently spoke to Spanish MMA insider Alvaro Colmonero about multiple topics ahead of the bout. The conversation also spilled into Topuria discussing ambitions to transition into boxing.

Boxing is definitely something where I say: ‘Wow I would love to do that.’ But I would love to do it with someone big, someone real and someone who can add to my resume, which I have worked so hard to build. It (Ryan Garcia) would be a huge fight, I love it. I see a fight like Ryan Garcia being very comfortable for me. I would break him long before it gets to the judges decision.

Ilia Topuria via KOlmeneroMMA

Garcia recently won the WBC welterweight title after defeating Mario Barrios via unanimous decision in February 2026. This victory marked his return to the win column after a defeat to Rolando Romero in May 2025. Prior to that setback, his win over Devin Haney was overturned to a no-contest. The result against Barrios re-established the 27-year-old champion as a major name in the welterweight division.

Ryan Garcia is not the only boxer Topuria has targeted in recent times; the Spaniard has also been vocal about a clash with retired, undefeated boxer Terence Crawford. The two were involved in a brief war of words on social media after meeting in September 2025. That tension built up in the period leading into Bud’s showdown with Canelo Alvarez, which became a defining moment in boxing history.

Interestingly, ‘King Ry’ was also involved in a heated moment with Ilia Topuria’s arch-rival, Arman Tsarukyan, over an unpaid $40,000 bet during a livestream interaction. Topuria is widely regarded as one of the best boxers within the UFC due to his sharp striking and knockout ability. However, he is now fully focused on his upcoming title defense at UFC Freedom 250 against Justin Gaethje on June 14th.

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Ryan Garcia’s dangerous warning to Ilia Topuria’s boxing callout

Ilia Topuria has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous and confident knockout artists in the UFC. His aggressive style and finishing ability have made him a standout figure in the UFC. He consistently carries a high level of confidence into fights, which shapes his overall mindset and approach inside the cage. That same confidence was visible in his recent callout of Ryan Garcia.

Ryan Garcia
Ryan Garcia (via The Ring Magazine)

Garcia is known as one of the most active combat sports athletes on social media. Alongside his boxing career, he has also expanded into streaming on Kick, building a broader online presence. He frequently uses platforms like X and Instagram to call out opponents or deliver direct statements. This online activity has helped set the stage for his recent exchange leading up to the callout involving Topuria.

You are a damn good striker for MMA that’s it. You wouldn’t be sipping on tea after our fight you would be eating thru a straw after our fight. Stay in your lane. I’ll gladly stay in mine.

Ryan Garcia via X

However, Ryan Garcia is now focused on his upcoming title defense against British star Conor Benn, scheduled for September 2026. The bout has shifted his attention back to in-ring preparation rather than social media exchanges. The situation closes this chapter of cross-sport callouts as the 27-year-old boxer turns his full attention to his next professional challenge.

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