Apr 20, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Terence Crawford looks on after winning his fight against Amir Khan during the WBO welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

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Boxing Star Believes Terence Crawford Could Shock The World By Submitting Ilia Topuria In MMA!

Crossover fights between boxing and MMA have always captured fans’ imagination. Fans have seen Conor McGregor step into a boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather, creating one of the biggest pay-per-view events in combat sports history. However, seeing elite boxers venture into the octagon remains incredibly rare, mainly because the skill sets required for MMA success extend far beyond just throwing punches. Wrestling, submissions, kicks, and ground fighting create a completely different battlefield that most boxers simply aren’t prepared to handle.

According to fellow boxer Shakur Stevenson’s recent bold prediction, Terence Crawford could be the boxer to beat an MMA fighter at his own game! This statement came after Crawford’s spectacular victory over Canelo Alvarez, which elevated him to superstar status and sparked conversations about potential superfights across different combat sports. Topuria has been actively campaigning for a crossover bout with Crawford, though the newly crowned super middleweight champion has shown little interest in entertaining such discussions.

Shakur Stevenson Gives Surprising Take On Terence Crawford MMA Potential

Shakur Stevenson delivered some eyebrow-raising comments during his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. They were discussing a hypothetical Crawford vs Topuria MMA fight. Stevenson didn’t just suggest Crawford could compete. He predicted the boxing champion would dominate Topuria inside the octagon. The boxing star pointed to Crawford’s wrestling background from his youth in Nebraska as evidence that he possesses the necessary grappling skills to succeed in mixed martial arts competition.

“I think that dude’s just different. Bud’s bigger than [Topuria], I just wouldn’t put it past him. I wouldn’t be surprised, come fight night, if they do an MMA fight, if Bud done knocked him out or choked him to death, something like that. I just wouldn’t be surprised.”

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Crawford’s background in wrestling led Stevenson to make the bold prediction that Crawford could potentially submit Topuria if they ever fought under MMA rules. While this might sound like typical fighter trash talk, his conviction suggests he genuinely believes Crawford’s athletic ability and wrestling foundation could translate effectively to cage fighting.

Reality Check On Crossover Fight Possibilities

While Stevenson’s loyalty to his fellow boxer is admirable, his predictions about Crawford’s MMA potential seem overly optimistic. Topuria represents one of the most complete fighters in the UFC, with elite boxing skills, dangerous submission abilities, and years of experience competing against the world’s best MMA fighters. His knockout power and technical proficiency have already proven effective against seasoned UFC veterans who possess well-rounded skill sets.

Crawford’s wrestling background certainly provides a foundation that many boxers lack when considering MMA competition. But the transition requires extensive training in areas completely foreign to boxing. Defending against leg kicks, sprawling from takedown attempts, and navigating guard positions represent just a few of the countless skills that separate successful MMA fighters from boxing champions. Even fighters with strong wrestling backgrounds often struggle during their early MMA careers while adapting to the sport’s multi-dimensional nature.

The financial incentives for such a crossover fight would certainly be substantial, potentially creating another massive pay-per-view event similar to McGregor vs Mayweather. However, Crawford’s recent comments suggest he has little interest in pursuing MMA competition. He prefers to focus on legacy boxing matches that could further cement his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Topuria will likely need to find other ways to build his star power rather than relying on unrealistic crossover dreams with elite boxing champions who have no motivation to step outside their comfort zones.

(Image Credit: Sarah Stier – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Shakur Stevenson

Terence Crawford

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!