The invention discloses a preparation method and application of topramezone, and the preparation method comprises the following steps: taking 2-methylbenzaldehyde, a bromination reagent, a catalyst, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, an alkali, ethylene gas, a sulfonylation reagent and a preset solvent as reaction raw materials, and preparing 3-[3-bromo-methyl-6-(methylsulfonyl) phenyl]-4, 5-dihydroisoxazole through a first reaction process; taking diethyl malonate, triethyl orthoformate, nickel sulfate, monobasic saturated carboxylic acid, methylhydrazine, a hydrocarbon solvent, an ethanol solutionand hydrochloric acid as reaction raw materials, and carrying out a second reaction process to prepare 1-methyl-5-hydroxypyrazole; and taking the 3-[3-bromo-methyl-6-(methylsulfonyl) phenyl]-4, 5 dihydroisoxazole,-1-methyl-5-hydroxypyrazole, triethylamine, potassium carbonate, palladium chloride, triphenylphosphine, 1, 4-dioxane, water, a saturated NaHCO3 solution and a hydrochloric acid solutionas reaction raw materials, and carrying out a third reaction process to prepare the topramezone. The problems that a sulfur-containing intermediate can emit odor and the raw materials are difficult to obtain in the existing process are solved.