Ilia Topuria wants to fight Shakur Stevenson because he 'talks too much'

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has expressed interest in transitioning to professional boxing, and he would relish the opportunity to face four-division champion Shakur Stevenson. Speaking on DeepCuts with VicBlends, Topuria acknowledged Stevenson's credentials as a skilled boxer but criticized his frequent public commentary. The undefeated Georgian-Spaniard believes he can compete effectively against the world's best boxers and would be particularly motivated to fight Stevenson, citing his outspoken nature as a source of friction. While boxing is not Topuria's primary focus, he views a potential showdown with Stevenson as an appealing cross-sport challenge that would test himself against elite combat athletes outside the UFC cage.