Ilia Topuria, Ryan Garcia get heated over potential boxing match: ‘You would be eating through a straw after our fight’
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria expressed confidence in his ability to transition to boxing and defeat boxer Ryan Garcia, claiming he would "break him" before the final bell.
- Ryan Garcia dismissed Topuria's claims, stating that while Topuria is a good MMA striker, he would struggle against a world-class boxer like himself and warned Topuria to "stay in your lane."
- The two engaged in a heated exchange on social media, with Topuria accusing Garcia of building his reputation on hype and bringing up Garcia's past steroid suspension, while Garcia called Topuria a "hype job" unlikely to succeed in boxing.
- Despite the verbal sparring, a fight between Topuria and Garcia is highly unlikely due to UFC's restrictions on fighters pursuing boxing matches following Conor McGregor's 2017 bout with Floyd Mayweather.
- Ryan Garcia is set to fight Conor Benn on September 12, while Topuria prepares to defend his UFC title at the upcoming UFC White House event in June.