Terence Crawford says he was never given a serious offer to fight Conor McGregor.<\/p>\n
Next weekend, Conor McGregor makes his long-awaited return to the cage when he rematches Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. It\u2019s McGregor\u2019s first fight in five years, and as such, \u201cNotorious\u201d has been out making the media rounds ahead of his return. A few weeks back, while promoting the fight, McGregor claimed that Turki Al-Sheikh had offered him and boxing great Terence Crawford $200 million to do a pair of crossover fights<\/a>, one in boxing and one in MMA, but Crawford declined.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s not how Crawford remembers it.<\/p>\n \u201dThat was a lie,\u201d Crawford told Yahoo Sports<\/a>. \u201cIt was cap. It wasn\u2019t never no $200 million offer,\u201d Crawford said. \u201cThey asked me would I do it, and I told them, \u2018You ain\u2019t about to be kicking on me, Conor.\u2019 We were on FaceTime, and I did tell him that. But they didn\u2019t say, \u2018Hey, you got $200 million. You fight him in boxing and MMA.\u2019 That was never the case. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201dIf it was said to me, I could say there was an offer, but if nothing is previewed to me, I can\u2019t say what is what. He\u2019s making up numbers, in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead, Crawford went on with his boxing career, cementing himself as arguably the best boxer of his generation and an all-time great, retiring from the sport as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the game. But looking back on it, Crawford \u2014 who has some grappling experience, having wrestled in his youth \u2014 says that had a real offer ever been made for that amount, he\u2019d have gone for it.<\/p>\n \u201cI would have done it. Why wouldn\u2019t I?\u201d Crawford said. \u201cI don\u2019t need to do it 1783003334. Back then, it would have been a good deal. Right now, where I\u2019m sitting at right now, I don\u2019t need to do it. I\u2019m in a different space in my life right now where I don\u2019t have to take those fights. Back then, I probably would have took it. I would have been like, \u2018Alright, let\u2019s do it.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cConor\u2019s not the best wrestler. I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m the best wrestler either, though, but I know standing up, it\u2019s only going to take one good shot, and I\u2019m going to put him to sleep. He\u2019s going to try to kick me, and takedowns, we\u2019re just going to do what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately for fans, that time has come and gone. Crawford retired last year following his win over Canelo Alvarez to become only the second male boxer in history to win undisputed championships in three weight classes. And with a legacy like that already secured, \u201cBud\u201d says he\u2019s not even thinking about coming back.<\/p>\n \u201dI\u2019m happily retired, and I don\u2019t see myself coming back,\u201d Crawford said. \u201cDone done.\u201d<\/p>\n Fight.<\/strong> Shogun Rua explains why he\u2019s glad to fight Glover Teixeira outside the UFC: \u2018It worked out for the best.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n 155.<\/strong> Diego Lopes \u2018in a bit of a tough spot\u2019<\/a> at featherweight, wants next fight to be against a top UFC lightweight.<\/p>\n Hope.<\/strong> Justin Gaethje believed UFC undisputed title win was possible despite past results: \u2018I never really lost hope.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Beef.<\/strong> Manel Kape on recent conflict with Sean Strickland, with both training at same gym: \u2018He loves attention.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Jack Slack breaks down McGregor-Holloway 1.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/strong><\/p>\n Erin Blanchfield (14-2) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (15-4)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Edson Barboza (24-14) vs. Esteban Ribovics (15-3)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Mansur Abdul-Malik (9-1-1) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (16-8)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Jeremiah Wells (13-4-1) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (16-2-1)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Geoff Neal (16-8) vs. Chidi Njokuani (25-12)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Neil Magny (31-14) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (13-6)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n Jalin Turner (15-9) vs. Kaue Fernandes (11-2)<\/strong>; UFC 330, Aug. 15.<\/p>\n First and foremost, happy birthday, America.<\/p>\n I know we\u2019re a couple of days early, but Friday is a holiday, and thus there will be no Morning Report tomorrow. For those of you stateside, enjoy the holiday and stay safe out there.<\/p>\n See y\u2019all on Monday as we kick off UFC 329 Fight Week.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee<\/a> of @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitch<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n