London’s Conor Benn is the latest boxer to see opportunity in beating up an MMA fighter.
Benn (23-1) is fresh off the first professional loss of his career, an outstanding 12-round war versus Chis Eubank Jr. that continued the family rivalry. The duo are now scheduled to rematch on November 15 in what should be another high-profile clash of English boxing stars.
After that, however? Benn has laid the gauntlet down at the feet of Ilia Topuria, challenging the current UFC Lightweight kingpin to a crossover match in boxing or bare knuckle. Benn says he’s tired of UFC fighters disrespecting boxers, even though he also admits he won’t be the one crossing into his opponent’s arena.
“Whoever these UFC fighters want to come over to boxing,” Benn began while hitting the heavy bag. “Dangerous game. If you fancy somebody, come and get it … Sign me up, I’ll fight anybody. Bareknuckle. Anybody that wants to come over from the UFC. Ilia [Topuria], I’ve got these hands brother.
“Anybody wants the smoke? Anybody that wants to come over? No problem. Listen, I ain’t stupid enough to go in the cage. I would never go in the cage, you wouldn’t catch me dead in the cage. Do you know why? I’d get my ass handed to me. But for them thinking they can come over and do that to us, that’s a f—king liberty.”
Recent history has provided strong evidence that MMA fighters cannot cross into the boxing ring against professionals (or even semi-professionals) without paying for their hubris. Isn’t it a little unfair that all these callouts and potential super fights involve the MMA fighter really taking the gamble with the ruleset though? Sadly, there’s no chance the UFC will foot that “ten bands” bill, so the ring will remain the arena of any kind of cross sport spectacle.
As for Ilia Topuria, “El Matador” surely has bigger fish to fry. If he does want to continue emulating the career of Conor McGregor, however, an important step in that journey was to cross into the ring for a massive payout and elevated stardom. Maybe Benn would be an appropriate dance partner?