Conor Benn has a rematch scheduled with Chris Eubank Jr, but is calling out MMA stars.
‘The Destroyer’ was undefeated in his boxing career until a unanimous decision loss to Eubank Jr in April, now he has the chance to avenge his defeat on November 15th.
In the months after the fight, Benn has been calling out stars from the welterweight division, including two world champions, while snubbing Ryan Garcia.
However, he has now taken it upon himself to call out the UFC stars who want to transition into boxing, including the lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Conor Benn calls out UFC stars, including Ilia Topuria, with a vicious warning
Topuria, who soared in the pound-for-pound rankings, has been lauded as the best boxer in the organisation after defeating the likes of Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira with brutal knockouts.
On a TikTok posted to his account, the 28-year-old did not hold back on any fighter from the other side of combat sports wanting to fight in the ring.
He said: “Whoever these f- – -ing UFC fighters that want to come over to boxing: dangerous game. Or if any of these MMA lot want to come over to boxing, if you fancy somebody, you can come and get it, nasty.”
Asked whether he’d step in to bareknuckle for a contest, the Londoner named his price.
“10 bar sign me up, I’ll fight anybody bareknuckle,” Benn said.
His callout continued with a direct message to the UFC and ‘El Matador’ if they believe he has the skills to beat him.
He exclaimed: “Anyone wants to come over from the UFC. Ilia, I got these hands brother. Anybody wants the smoke, anybody wants to come over no problem.”
However, he stopped short of going in the cage with the stars, claiming he wouldn’t be caught ‘dead’ in there because he’d get his ‘a- – handed’ to him.
In a final message, he said: “For them to think they can come over and do that to us, it’s a f- – -ing liberty. Don’t disrespect us boxers because if so, you are getting it.”
Conor Benn has twice as many knockout wins as Ilia Topuria
A bout between the two may seem unlikely, but Floyd Mayweather Jr did have a crossover contest with Conor McGregor in 2017, so it could happen.
When comparing the knockout power with their hands, the Spaniard has acquired seven wins in his MMA career via punches.
| Conor Benn | Ilia Topuria |
| Age: 28 | Age: 28 |
| Record: 23-1 | Record: 14-0 |
| Knockouts: 14 | Knockouts (via punches): 7 |
| Height: 5’8 | Height: 5’7 |
| Reach: 69 inches | Reach: 69 inch |
| Weight: 156 lbs | Weight: 155 lbs |
In comparison, the son of the great Nigel Benn has won 14 of his 23 fights by knockout since becoming a professional in 2016.
On the whole, the bout would be very evenly matched given their similarities across all areas, apart from in-ring experience.
This clash would certainly divide fans of both disciplines but would add to a recent trend in crossover bouts, with this one having bragging rights for which is the better sport.