The age-old debate of boxer vs. MMA fighter has persisted ever since James Toney’s ill-fated UFC showdown with Randy Couture. Over the years, that rivalry has only grown, from Conor McGregor stepping into the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather to Francis Ngannou’s blockbuster bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. More recently, the cross-sport rivalry was reignited when former UFC 155lbs champion Ilia Topuria exchanged words with boxing superstar Terence Crawford.
Now, Crawford has made a claim that is sure to surprise many fans. The undefeated boxing legend denied reports that he was offered $200 million to face Conor McGregor in a two-fight deal featuring one boxing match and one MMA fight.
Back in 2024, both Crawford and McGregor revealed that Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, had discussed a two-fight agreement between them: one under boxing rules and the other in MMA. McGregor even claimed the pair would have earned millions from the blockbuster crossover.
Conor McGregor reveals there were discussions for a two-fight deal with Terence Crawford worth $200 million involving Turki Alalshikh, but says Crawford ultimately declined:
“I got on the phone, ‘What’s the craic, Terence? It’s the Mac Daddy. I got [Turki] here. We’ve got a big… pic.twitter.com/NpkkCblSG3
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 16, 2026
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At the time, Crawford told Bernie Tha Boxer that he had no interest in stepping inside the Octagon with McGregor, citing the risks of being kicked and elbowed. McGregor recently echoed that story ahead of his UFC 329 return during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, claiming Crawford had rejected the idea of fighting him in MMA first before meeting in a boxing match.
McGregor also revealed that a massive financial offer of exactly $200 million had been on the table for the proposed superfight. The matchup would have been particularly intriguing given Crawford’s wrestling background, but McGregor maintained that the boxing champion declined because he didn’t want to deal with the striking arsenal unique to MMA.
However, during his appearance on the latest episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Crawford pushed back on those claims, insisting that no such $200 million offer ever existed. The American, however, went on to explain how the story may have been misunderstood.
During his conversation with Ariel Helwani, Crawford dismissed McGregor’s version of events, saying, “That was a lie. It was cap. There was never a $200 million offer, they asked me what I’d do, and I told them, ‘You ain’t about to be kicking on me, Conor.’ We were on FaceTime, and I did tell him that.”
He added, “But they didn’t say, ‘Hey, you got $200 million. You fight him in boxing and MMA.’ That was never the case. If it was said to me, I could say there was an offer, but if nothing is privy to me, I can’t say what is what. He’s making up numbers, in my head.”
Despite denying the fight offer, Crawford admitted he would have seriously considered accepting it had such a financial deal actually been presented to him. He said, “I would have done it… Why wouldn’t I? I don’t need to do it [today after retiring]. Back then, it would have been a good deal. Right now, where I’m sitting, I don’t need to do it. That’s the thing; I’m in a different space in my life right now, where I don’t have to take those fights.”
The undefeated boxing great also expressed confidence in his chances against McGregor under MMA rules, pointing to the Irishman’s wrestling as an area he believed he could handle. Crawford claimed, “Back then, I probably would have taken it. Conor’s not the best wrestler. I’m not saying I’m the best wrestler either, but I know standing up it’s only going to take one good shot, and I’m going to put him to sleep. He’s going to try to kick me, and takedowns, we’re just going to do what we do.”
Terence Crawford says he would’ve fought Conor McGregor if they actually offered $200M 👀
“It’s cap. He’s making up numbers. I would’ve did it. Now, I don’t need to.
Conor’s not the best wrestler. I know it only takes one shot and I’d put him to sleep.”
(via @arielhelwani) https://t.co/1DxOGKgemZ pic.twitter.com/ljqnbzM1A2
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 1, 2026
For the unversed, Crawford retired with a perfect 42-0 professional record after his historic victory over Canelo Alvarez in September 2025. McGregor, meanwhile, has not competed since suffering a gruesome leg break against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The former two-division UFC champion is set to return against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas.
However, McGregor is no stranger to crossover spectacles. In 2017, he stepped into the boxing ring to face Floyd Mayweather, ultimately losing via 10th-round TKO. Despite the defeat, the blockbuster event reportedly earned him more than $100 million. The Las Vegas showdown also generated a live gate of $55.5 million and sold 4.3 million pay-per-view buys, making it the second-highest-grossing and second-best-selling fight in boxing history.
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