Paulie Malignaggi quits Conor McGregor’s training camp over leaked sparring photos
Retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi was bought in by team McGregor to help Conor McGregor train for his upcoming boxing match against Floyd Mayweather this August. However, things haven’t gone so smoothly between Malignaggi and McGregor as sparring recently got intense.
Paulie Malignaggi told ESPN that he felt ‘setup’ at a recent sparring session. “I didn’t like the fact I had to fly across the country on Monday, and they have me scheduled for 12 [rounds] on Tuesday. I thought it was a little bit of a setup,” he told Brett Okamotto. “Usually all sparring is private. I show up at the UFC headquarters and Fertitta is there, Dana White is there. So I’m thinking these guys are thinking they’ll catch me right off the flight, set me up for him to look good in front of his audience. I didn’t like that. I kind of went in with a chip on my shoulder.”
“There was a pushdown yesterday,” Malignaggi continued. “Conor on the inside, he can get a little rough. He shoved me down you know, but no knockdowns. Obviously, 12 rounds you’re gonna see there’s a mark on my face. Very, very hard work for both of us. I was starting to get in a groove in the middle rounds, starting to land some good shots. Conor really came on strong in the end. It was back and forth.”
Photos appeared online of that very sparring session and shows Paulie Malignaggi on the canvas.
Ghostie pic.twitter.com/ViSNzrWV0J
— Conor McGregor News (@ConormcGregor5) August 3, 2017
More photos of Tuesday’s sparring match with Malignaggi, from McGregor and UFC photographers. pic.twitter.com/zL6XgDGfpn
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 3, 2017
Feeling like he had been exploited by the leaking of the pictures, a frustrated Malignaggi responded calling team McGregor to post the full unedited video of the sparring session. He again repeating what he told ESPN, that what you see in the picture was a push down not a knock down and claims to have beat McGregor’s ass.
Its not nice 2 paint a pic that isn’t true, this was a pushdown in sparring, post the whole video rounds 1 through 12 UNEDITED https://t.co/R82BLiMMVm
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
The @ufc PI has cameras all over the gym recording 24/7. The video exists UNEDITED of rounds 1 through 12 Tuesday night, let the fans see.
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
I came to help this camp out, not to be exploited, now your gonna get the truth though. Post FULL UNEDITED VIDEO FROM TUES night #Ethics
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
I actually beat his ass, 24 hrsoff a flight 2 lol, which is why Im saying post the vid, I try not 2 be petty but seems it’s late 4 that now. https://t.co/vSE2Iw4ffM
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
I did interview BECAUSE of the pics, I’m not ur average sparring partner u post pics with me media will hound me, I’ve said stop with pics. https://t.co/9c85977PQ5
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
Shortly after, he posted a statement to announce that he has quit McGregor’s training camp, insisting that there is still a mutual respect between the two despite being unhappy about the way things were handled during camp.
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) August 4, 2017
Conor McGregor takes on Floyd Mayweather this August 26th at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
