UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria stirred social media discussion by sharing a photo with boxing superstar Terence Crawford, asking fans: “Who wins this fight?”
The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), drew a mix of responses as fans debated a hypothetical matchup between Topuria and Crawford, with opinions split depending on whether the context was MMA or boxing. Some fans confidently backed Topuria, while others pointed to Crawford’s boxing prowess.
The timing of Topuria’s post comes just days before Crawford faces undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 13 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, one of the biggest fights of Crawford’s career.
The UFC champion’s question may also have been influenced by Crawford’s recent comments when asked to name the best boxer in the UFC. Crawford unexpectedly chose Cody Garbrandt, saying: “Yeah, (I’ve seen Topuria), but I don’t know man, Cody has got them hands… I just think Cody has got the best boxing skills in the UFC.”
Garbrandt, however, has struggled recently in the Octagon, losing seven of his last ten bouts, including four by knockout. Some interpreted Crawford’s pick as a slight against Topuria, adding fuel to the playful rivalry.
Fans can expect more hype and speculation if Topuria eventually ventures into boxing, potentially setting up an MMA-to-boxing crossover showdown in the future.
