Canelo Alvarez drops major hint about potential fight with UFC star Ilia Topuria

In boxing, Canelo Alvarez remains the sport’s biggest name. On the MMA side, Ilia Topuria has taken the UFC by storm with his dominance. But could a crossover fight between the two actually happen? The Mexican superstar has now responded.

Canelo Alvarez has built an exceptional career. The Mexican legend has captured multiple titles across different weight classes, cementing his place among the greatest boxers of all time.

Now approaching the final years of his career, fans are beginning to wonder whether Canelo should take a different path—perhaps accepting new challenges outside traditional boxing. That’s why a potential bout against UFC star Ilia Topuria doesn’t sound far-fetched.

Canelo Alvarez addresses the possibility of facing UFC star Ilia Topuria

Mexico has produced many elite boxers over the years, and right now, Canelo Alvarez stands at the top. But with retirement looming, the door may be opening for the champion to explore high-profile crossover fights.

Recently, Canelo revealed that he could fight for another two or three years. Following that statement, fans began speculating whether he should take on blockbuster bouts that would keep him in the spotlight as his career winds down.

see also

Why Jake Paul shouldn’t target Canelo Alvarez—even if he beats Julio Chavez Jr.

While he’s received multiple challenges from Jake Paul, it seems a new opportunity has emerged. When asked about the possibility of fighting Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC champion, Canelo didn’t shut the idea down.

“I have a lot of gratitude for fighters that take a little bit of my fighting and respect it, it’s awesome to see other fighters like me,” said during the press conference of his fight against Terence Crawford. “Let’s see, in terms of fighting him, first things first, let’s worry about this now.”

The main obstacle to a fight would be the weight difference. Topuria recently moved up from featherweight to lightweight in UFC 317 and currently weighs around 155 pounds. In contrast, Canelo competes at super middleweight, around 167.5 pounds, and hasn’t dropped below that division since 2020.