Crawford says he declined 2-fight deal vs. McGregor
Boxing champion Terence Crawford said Wednesday he turned down an offer to fight UFC star Conor McGregor because he didn't want to compete in mixed martial arts.
Crawford confirmed that Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, recently offered him and McGregor a two-fight deal to square off in MMA and boxing.
"They called me and they offered me the fight," Crawford told Bernie Tha Boxer. "Me and Conor got on the phone and started politicking to try and figure something out. I just told him, 'Man, I'm not getting in no f-----g Octagon with you so you can be kicking me and elbowing me and shit.'"
McGregor was the first to reveal he had talks with Alalshikh and Crawford, doing so on a Duelbits live stream last week.
McGregor, a former UFC two-division champion, has stepped into the boxing ring once before, taking on Floyd Mayweather in one of the most lucrative fights of all time in 2017. The Irishman lost via 10th-round TKO but made upward of $100 million.
Crawford is one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world and one of three boxers to capture undisputed championships in two different divisions during the four-belt era.
McGregor expressed interest in fighting Crawford, but he also apparently understood the boxer's reluctance to step into the cage.
"(McGregor) was like, 'Man, I respect that,'" Crawford said. "'Because 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.'"
Crawford added: "Sometimes, it ain't about the money."
McGregor hasn't fought in the UFC since breaking his leg in a July 2021 bout, but he's expected to return in 2025. An opponent has not yet been confirmed. "The Notorious" was scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June but withdrew after suffering a toe injury.
Crawford, the former undisputed welterweight champ, moved up to junior middleweight in August and defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision to claim the WBA title and WBO interim title.