Days after claiming his first UFC title, newly minted featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is already eyeing a possible showdown with one of many greatest names in skilled boxing — Canelo Alvarez.
On Saturday, February 17, ‘El Matador’ shocked the world with a vicious second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski within the UFC 298 fundamental occasion. Since then, Topuria has been residing it up, receiving a hero’s welcome in his return to Spain and calling out a few of the greatest names in fight sports activities. Talking with Joe Rogan instantly following his title-winning efficiency, Topuria referred to as for a conflict with Irish megastar Conor McGregor contained in the Octagon.
On Thursday, the pattern continued at a press occasion the place Topuria expressed curiosity in a boxing match with the multi-time world champion.
Canelo Alvarez is without doubt one of the most revered athletes within the historical past of the candy science. He has held world championships in 4 totally different weight lessons from mild middleweight to mild heavyweight, together with unified titles in three of these weight lessons and lineal titles in two. He holds a formidable 60-2 report with 39 of his wins through knockout.
This isn’t the primary time Ilia Topuria has expressed an curiosity in testing out his boxing abilities towards Alvarez. Throughout a November look on the Overdogs Podcast — three months earlier than his earth-shattering KO towards Alexander Volkanovski — ‘El Matador’ shared his need to step contained in the squared circle with the Mexican sensation.
“I’d like to struggle someday with Canelo,” Topuria mentioned. “I’ve so, a lot respect for him. However I wanna struggle with him someday. As soon as I win the belt and turn out to be a UFC world champion, I wanna go for him. As a result of I actually suppose I’ve an opportunity with him. I’ve been following him eternally. I imagine I’ve the likelihood to beat him.“
