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Ilia Topuria calls out two boxing stars amid fiery Ryan Garcia feud
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- Ilia Topuria calls out two boxing stars amid fiery Ryan Garcia feud
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria has quickly become one of the UFC's biggest stars, pairing two-weight champion status with the knockout power to draw attention beyond MMA.
Like Conor McGregor before him, Topuria has not ruled out a move into boxing, and his confidence is already attracting major names.
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That escalated on Thursday, when Topuria and Ryan Garcia traded shots on X after the UFC champion discussed a possible boxing fight.
Ilia Topuria responds to Ryan Garcia and brings Conor Benn into the mix
Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images
Topuria had told Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenaro that a boxing match with Garcia would feel "comfortable" for him.
Garcia did not hold back, writing: "You are a damn good striker for MMA that's it. You wouldn't be sipping on tea after our fight, you would be eating through a straw after our fight. Stay in your lane. I'll gladly stay in mine."
Topuria fired back, questioning Garcia's reputation and dragging another name into the argument.
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"You built your name on hype, I built mine by putting legends to sleep. I would give you a boxing lesson, we are not on the same level," the Spaniard wrote.
"Bring the guy you fight in September, I would beat both of you in the same ring."
That final line was directed at Conor Benn, the Zuffa Boxing star who appears set to face Garcia in September.
It turned a back-and-forth with Garcia into a bolder challenge involving two established boxers.
For now, Topuria's focus remains on the UFC. But his post made clear how he wants to be seen, not just as a fighter testing boxing, but as one who believes he can beat its biggest names.
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