Terence Crawford has made it clear that the only fights that matter to him at this stage of his career are for money and/or legacy.
The undefeated switch-hitter from Omaha recently became champion in a fourth weight class, cementing an already stellar run in the sport having been two-time undisputed.
While he does all he can to get a fight a further two divisions up against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, there are plenty of others angling to face him.
One man who won’t be getting that shot is Conor McGregor, UFC superstar and one-time crossover boxer. McGregor’s fight against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 was one of the most lucrative events in the sport’s history, and he has teased a return ever since.
Asked if it was true that he had been offered a two-fight deal with the MMA man – one in the ring and one in the octagon – Crawford confirmed but said he had rejected it in no uncertain terms.
“Listen, man. I told Conor to his self, I said hell no. You know what I mean? Me and Conor, they called me they offered me the fight. Me and Conor got on the phone, we start politicking, trying to figure something out. I just told him, man I’m not getting in no f***ing octagon with you so you can be kicking me and elbowing me and s**t. So, he gets to laughing and s**t and he’s like man, I respect that.
[He told me] you respect my sport just like I respect your sport and you understand that if you get in the octagon with me you’re gonna be at a disadvantage, just like if I get in the boxing ring with you I’m gonna be at a disadvantage. He was like but me would make a s**t ton of money. I said, yeah sometimes it ain’t about the money. I can make money, you ain’t about to be kicking me dude. That s**t ain’t no joke.”
McGregor is expected to make a long-awaited return to the UFC in 2025.
Meanwhile, Crawford is currently in a period of negotiation for a super-welterweight unification bout against Sebastian Fundora. The pair have just over one week to come to terms before purse bids are called. What ‘Bud’ does will perhaps be the biggest indicator yet on whether or not he is waiting out for Canelo and only Canelo.
