Topuria fires back at Crawford: “First he calls me drunk, then…”
“El Matador” responds to the American’s taunts after his victory over Canelo, where he walked out to La Canción del Mariachi. “I’ll teach you how to dance in the ring,” slams Topuria.
The aura around Ilia Topuria extends far beyond mixed martial arts and the UFC. The name of “El Matador” also loomed large over the biggest boxing fight of the year. Before, during, and after. On his way to seizing the undisputed super middleweight crown from Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, Terence Crawford entered the ring to the strains of La Canción del Mariachi — the Antonio Banderas theme song that has long accompanied Topuria’s walkouts. “Did you know that’s the song Ilia Topuria uses for his fights?” Crawford was asked after his historic victory. “Oh. Good for him,” he replied curtly, adding another chapter to a rivalry that’s been building for some time.
It all began with Topuria’s ambition. The reigning UFC lightweight champion has made no secret of his belief that he can beat today’s biggest names inside a boxing ring. Last week, the Spanish-Georgian fighter posted a photo with Crawford on social media. “Who would win in a boxing match?” he wrote. Minutes later, he answered his own question: “I’d put him to sleep with the first touch.” The American didn’t stay silent. “That guy’s drunk. A lot of MMA guys drink too much, so he probably had a few that day,” Crawford said at the press conference before his fight with Canelo
After Crawford’s victory on Sunday came Topuria’s latest response — this time stunned that the American had walked out to his song. “First he calls me drunk… then he comes out with my song. Crawford, whenever you want, I’ll teach you how to dance that mariachi in the ring,” “El Matador” posted on social media. “And Canelo, I’ll save a round for you after him,” he added, signaling once more that a jump to boxing could be in his future. “I hope I can fight him (Crawford). It’s something I want to do, and I don’t think he (UFC president Dana White) would stop me from chasing a dream,” Topuria said Saturday at the WOW 22 press conference.
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