Terence Crawford says he has turned down series fights with Conor McGregor in both boxing and MMA

Terence Crawford vs. Conor McGregor was once on the table. Both parties confirmed a phone call about a series of fights, one in boxing and one in mixed martial arts, but Crawford says that was not the case.

McGregor claimed in a Duelbits livestream this week that Crawford turned down the fight. Crawford has since backed up McGregor's words. Crawford, an undisputed world boxing champion in two weight classes, confirmed that he was not interested in an MMA fight against the former UFC two-division champion.

“They offered me the fight,” Crawford told Bernie the Boxer on Wednesday. “Me and Conor got on the phone and started playing politics to find out something. Man, I’m not going to get involved with you on Octagon so you can kick and elbow me!”

“He said, 'I respect that,'” Crawford said. “‘You respect my sport just like I respect your sport. You understand that if you came into the Octagon with me, you would be at a disadvantage.'”

Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, offered the crossover fight. McGregor claimed the two-fight deal would make “hundreds of millions.”

Crawford (41-0 in boxing) is one of three boxers to simultaneously hold four recognized world titles in two weight classes. McGregor (22-6 in MMA) became the first fighter to become UFC champion in two divisions at the same time. Despite having some wrestling experience, Crawford has never fought in MMA. McGregor famously boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, losing by TKO in the 10th round.