The debate between MMA fans and boxing fans rages on in many social media circles, but one boxer has had his say on a bold claim made by UFC champion Ilia Topuria.
When Francis Ngannou moved from MMA to boxing, debate raged on over whether he would find any success in the sport, with many suggesting his fight with Tyson Fury would be a mismatch.
It wasn’t a mismatch, and MMA fans felt justified in their reasoning that crossing over between the sports was possible. That was until Ngannou faced Anthony Joshua, who unlike Fury, seemed to have come prepared, not underestimating the MMA champion.
Joshua knocked out Ngannou in two rounds, marking another failure of an MMA fighter to move into boxing, just like many of Jake Paul‘s opponents – Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, as well as Conor McGregor, who lost to Floyd Mayweather in his final fight.
Tim Tszyu’s nightmare blasts Ilia Topuria over ridiculous claim
Despite MMA fighters finding more failure than success when they trade the octagon for the squared circle, it seems many are still intent to try.
UFC champion Ilia Topuria said on the PBD Podcast: “If I prepare for six months, like only boxing […] put whoever you want in front of me, whoever.”
“I know how good I am in boxing. I train every day boxing […] I spar with pro boxers. I consider myself that I can box with anyone.”
Pro boxer Bakhram Murtazaliev, who blitzed Tim Tszyu in three rounds in his latest fight, replied to the claim with a short but damning response – three laughing emojis.
Tim Bradley claimed Murtazaliev mentally scarred Tszyu. Murtazaliev is now 23-0 with 17 knockouts, and is the current IBF super welterweight world champion.
It seems Murtazaliev, like many boxing fans, struggles to believe any MMA fighter could find success against the top tier of boxers, especially after just six months.
“Ilia sleeps you”… Fans fight back against Murtazaliev as debate rages on social media
Murtazaliev’s response was quick to garner attention, with fans debating in the replies beneath it as to whether he is right or wrong, whether Topuria would stand a chance in boxing at a high level.
One fan wrote: “I rock with you champ, but ilia sleeps you.”
His comment was seconded by another, who said: “AND YOUR LAUGHING BECAUSE?! ILIA WOULD SLEEP TF OUTTA U AND TAKE YA IBF TITLE SO WATCH YA TONGUE!”
However the majority believe Murtazaliev is right, with one fan branding anyone who says otherwise as “delusional MMA fans.”
One boxing fan pointed to his performance against Tszyu, who may fight Keith Thurman next, claiming Topuria would stand no chance: “He made Tim look like an amateur. It’s not even a convo.”
In a flip of this debate, Deontay Wilder is considering a move to MMA from boxing.