Ilia Topuria is feeling himself right now after becoming UFC featherweight champion.
Last week, Topuria stunned the world when he defeated Alexander Volkanovski via second round knockout at UFC 298 in Anaheim.
Topuria, who is half Georgian and half Spanish, arrived to Madrid Spain this week to a hero’s welcome.
Ilia Topuria ya está en España. 🇪🇸
✈ Así ha sido el recibimiento al 'Matador' en Barajas.
✍ Autógrafos, fotos y muchas felicitaciones.
📹 @partidazocope pic.twitter.com/vqA9gQZBmp
— Relevo (@relevo) February 22, 2024
While speaking to the media Topuria said that he wanted to fight boxing champion Canelo Alvarez in a boxing match.
🇪🇸⚔️🇲🇽 Ilia Topuria talks about a future boxing fight, more specifically against Canelo Álvarez
🎥 YT / @Marca, H/T @pelunaton #UFC #MMA #Boxing
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 22, 2024
Topuria had previously shown interest in a clash against Canelo despite the fact that he competes in a weight class two pounds below him.
“I would love to fight one day with Canelo,” Topuria said. “I have so, so much respect for him. But I wanna fight with him one day. Once I win the belt and become a UFC world champion, I wanna go for him. Because I really think I have a chance with him. I’ve been following him forever. I believe I have the possibility to beat him.“
Topuria is going to have to wait because Canelo currently has several suitors in the boxing ring and has been uninterested in fighting MMA fighters in the past.
Maybe if Canelo loses his next bout, the two could fight some time in the future but instead Topuria is going to have another suitor.
