Ilia Topuria Rules Out Terence Crawford Fight After Retirement
Ilia Topuria has made clear he has no interest in pursuing a fight with Terence Crawford now that the boxing star has stepped away from the sport for good.
The former two-division UFC champion delivered the message during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, offering genuine respect for the undefeated American’s career rather than any lingering challenge.
Topuria, who sits at 17-1 after dropping the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje via fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in mid-June, spoke warmly about the 38-year-old Crawford. “Props to him for an amazing career that he had,” Topuria said. “He, he’s one of those boxers that I, I like to watch.”
The Georgian-Spanish fighter has long drawn inspiration from elite boxers, and he credited Crawford’s technical approach with shaping parts of his own game. “I, I have learned many, many things from his style,” Topuria continued. That admiration, he explained, is exactly why he will not push for a crossover bout.
“So I don’t wanna even talk or challenge him because he’s retired,” Topuria stated. “So I wish him all the best to him and his family.”
Crawford announced his retirement in December 2025 at age 38, walking time on a perfect 42-0 record that included 31 knockouts. His final performance came three months earlier when he outpointed Canelo Alvarez to claim undisputed super middleweight honors and become the first fighter to hold undisputed titles in three weight classes. He has remained firm on that decision through the first half of 2026, even as he transitioned into broadcast work and reflected publicly on a career he felt left nothing unfinished.
Topuria’s tone marked a clear shift from earlier public interest in testing himself against Crawford in a boxing match. At the time, Crawford had dismissed the idea as clout-chasing. With the Nebraska native now officially retired, Topuria chose not to revisit the notion.
He went further in praising Crawford’s character. “You believe he seems to be a, a serious guy,” Topuria said. “He seems to be the kind of, of, of person that says something and he backs it up.” When the conversation circled back to whether the retirement might be temporary, Topuria offered a simple assessment: “I think that he’s retired.”
The comments arrive as Topuria recovers from significant facial injuries sustained in the Gaethje loss, including broken orbital bones on both sides. He is not expected to return to the Octagon in 2026, giving him time to heal and reassess his path after becoming only the 10th fighter in UFC history to capture titles in two divisions. His featherweight reign featured dominant wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway before the move to 155 pounds and the first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira that secured the lightweight belt in June 2025.
For Crawford, the retirement closes a chapter defined by pound-for-pound excellence and historic achievements. For Topuria, the respectful stance removes one speculative crossover storyline from the conversation while he focuses on rehabilitation and a potential 2027 return.
What comes next for the former champion will depend on his recovery timeline and the lightweight landscape under new titleholder Justin Gaethje. In the meantime, Topuria’s latest remarks leave no ambiguity: the door to a fight with Terence Crawford is closed, replaced by appreciation for a career well lived.
