“Don’t Compare Him to Conor”- Terence Crawford Humbles Ilia Topuria After Audacious Call Outs

Newly crowned undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford mocks Ilia Topuria following their recent beef. 

“Don’t Compare Him to Conor”- Terence Crawford Humbles Ilia Topuria After Audacious Call Outs

Terence Crawford doesn't think Ilia Topuria is at Conor McGregor's level (via X)

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Last weekend, Terence Crawford stunned the boxing world by making history as the first male fighter to become a three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era. Against all odds, the American outclassed superstar Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113), securing a monumental, career-defining victory.

But after his triumph, ‘Bud’ found himself in a new feud, this time outside the boxing ring with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. In the buildup to the Alvarez fight week, Topuria teased a potential boxing showdown with Crawford, boldly predicting he would knock out the champ.

The Nebraska native didn’t take kindly to the talk, ridiculing Topuria by suggesting he was drunk and even allegedly trolling him by using the UFC star’s walkout song against Alvarez. The Georgian-Spanish fighter quickly fired back, challenging Crawford publicly for a crossover fight in the near future.

And in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Crawford doubled down, mocking Topuria again and dismissing any comparisons to former UFC double champion Conor McGregor, against whom the Spaniard is often pitted owing to their near-identical career paths.

To be honest, I’ve never even seen this dude fight. I’m not worried about that guy at all..I definitely think he’s trying to chase attentio. What money would I get out of fighting him? Tell me how much I’m gonna get out of fighting him. He’s not nowhere near on the level of Conor McGregor. Let’s be real. Stop it. Don’t ever compare him to Conor. 

Terence Crawford via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Topuria has often been accused of copying McGregor, from flashy tattoos to trash-talking, as fans continually notice undeniable similarities. His callout of Crawford was strikingly similar to when ‘The Notorious’ fought boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in a 2017 crossover bout. That historic fight went on to become the second-highest-grossing combat sports event of all time, breaking multiple records.

The Irish superstar walked away with an unbelievable payday, reportedly earning nearly $100 million from that single historic fight. However, as Crawford mentioned recently, fighting Topuria right now might not generate him a similar gigantic paycheck or financial reward.

Nevertheless, it still would be extremely interesting to see exactly where this heated rivalry eventually leads in the combat sports landscape. With UFC CEO Dana White now operating TKO Boxing, such blockbuster crossover bouts are truly not that unpredictable.

Is Terence Crawford better than Floyd Mayweather?

Terence Crawford was heavily doubted heading into his bout with Canelo Alvarez because of his smaller size compared to the Mexican superstar. However, the American boxer silenced critics by putting on an absolute masterclass, effectively using his technical brilliance throughout. For twelve rounds, Crawford dismantled Alvarez, leaving the champion completely helpless and unable to figure out his unique style.

Terence Crawford beats Canelo Alvarez
Terence Crawford beats Canelo Alvarez (via X)

After the fight, Alvarez admitted Terence Crawford was way better than Floyd Mayweather, a statement that quickly went viral across global sports media. During his latest interview, the veteran was asked about these comparisons, and he made sure to give a suitable response. 

He (Alvarez) was in the ring with both of us. People can say what they want, but he’s actually been in the ring with both of us. One he felt like he was at the best and another where he felt like he was at a disadvantage with a rehydration clause when he was younger. I don’t go off of that. Floyd is the best fighter in his era and I feel like I’m the best fighter in my era.

Terence Crawford via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Nevertheless, the mutual respect between Alvarez and Crawford was impressive as ‘Bud’ returned the belts to the Mexican. According to the new undisputed super middleweight champion, he is a fan of Alvarez and respects his achievements. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see how things move in the boxing world and who’s next to fight Crawford.

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