Boxing star Shakur Stevenson has weighed in on the ongoing debate between his mentor Terence Crawford and UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, making a surprising claim that Crawford could potentially defeat the MMA champion even in his own sport.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Stevenson was asked about the back-and-forth between Crawford and Topuria that has been brewing on social media. Rather than dismissing the crossover talk entirely, the undefeated boxer offered a perspective that caught many by surprise.
“I think them guys got to leave Bud alone,” Stevenson initially said, seeming protective of his mentor. However, when pressed about whether Crawford could compete in MMA, Stevenson’s response was far from dismissive.
“You better off saying UFC like Bud is a guy that I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets in the UFC and beat the s**t out of some guys too, cuz he got a great wrestling background.”
Having trained closely with the newly crowned undisputed super welterweight champion, he’s witnessed firsthand Crawford’s grappling abilities. “I done seen him wrestle real wrestlers, like real wrestlers, on some everyday…,” Stevenson revealed.
When directly asked if Crawford could beat Topuria in both boxing and MMA, Stevenson remained cautiously optimistic about his mentor’s chances. “I’m not saying that he can beat him, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t put it past him cuz Bud look bigger than that guy. He got longer arms. I just wouldn’t put it past him,” he explained.
The physical advantages that Stevenson highlighted are legitimate factors. Crawford’s size and reach advantage could potentially play a significant role in any hypothetical matchup. Stevenson went even further, suggesting that Crawford’s versatility might surprise people: “I would not think that I wouldn’t be surprised come fight night. If they do an MMA fight, if Bud done knocked him out of sleep or choked him to death or something like that.”
This crossover debate gained traction following Crawford’s dominant performance against Canelo Alvarez, where he showcased why many consider him one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best fighters.
