Ilia Topuria Demands Canelo Bout While Dodging UFC Elite: "I'm Ready For The Big Stage"

George Fields July 28, 2025, 6:13 a.m.
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Ilia Topuria, the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, wants to step into the boxing ring with Canelo Alvarez. The Spanish-Georgian fighter has set his sights on a crossover bout with the Mexican superstar, following in the footsteps of other MMA fighters who've tried their hand at boxing.

Topuria's been on a tear in the UFC lately. He knocked out Charles Oliveira in June, grabbed his second UFC belt, and beat top contenders Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. Now, he's looking for an even bigger challenge.

"Why not me? I'd love to box against the winner of Canelo and Crawford. But if I could choose, I want Canelo. He was my idol for many years and I feel like I can do it."

Topuria's not shy about his chances against Canelo. He's confident he can beat the boxing champ and wants the UFC to let him follow Conor McGregor's path into the squared circle.

"Let's do it, now is the best time. Canelo, obviously. He is a reference for me. I want my chance against him. I feel I can beat him. If I have the chance to fight him, why not? Come on, Turki [Alalshikh], give me the chance to win the title."

Canelo's got other things on his mind right now. He's gearing up for a big fight with Terence Crawford on September 13 in Las Vegas. But when asked about Topuria, Canelo was respectful.

"I haven't seen him fight a full fight, but I like him very much, I respect and admire him. Let's see. First things first, now I'm focused on what I have in front of me."

Crossover fights between MMA fighters and boxers have been a hot trend lately. We've seen everything from Conor McGregor taking on Floyd Mayweather to YouTubers squaring off against retired boxers. These matchups have been big money-makers, which explains why fighters like Topuria are eager to get in on the action.

Canelo's not usually into these kinds of fights. He turned down an offer to fight YouTuber Jake Paul, saying he's not interested in "morbid" matchups. But Topuria's a legit champ in his own right, so who knows? Maybe we'll see these two square off someday.

For now, Topuria's riding high in the UFC and Canelo's got his hands full with Crawford. But in the world of combat sports, you never know what might happen next.

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