World Boxing News reached out to Paulie Malignaggi recently, following reports a boxing match with Conor McGregor could happen in 2019.
‘The Magic Man’ confirmed what WBN initially thought about the rumors, that they were just speculation.
When asked directly if any talk whatsoever had taken place with McGregor’s team, Malignaggi replied: ‘None at all’ to the question at hand.
The pair have endured an acrimonious relationship on the back of a sparring session in 2017, which ended up in a mud-slinging match.
Malignaggi reacted to comments from Team McGregor, the former world champion was dropped and humiliated during the spars, which the Showtime commentator rightly didn’t take too kindly to.
Since then, Malignaggi and McGregor have been involved in several spats on social media.
UFC RETURN
At the back end of 2018, and after McGregor lost to Khabib via tap-out, Malignaggi couldn’t resist wading in when appearing on Sirius Fight Nation 93.
“We all win, and we all lose but go out like a man. Not like a sissy. I cringed for him when I saw that footage [of Conor telling Khabib it was all business in the Octagon]. You actually really prove me right every time. He never [goes out with dignity].”
“He was trying to quit in round two … Khabib was keeping him facing forward so he couldn’t quit. He wanted out of the fight from round two.
“When he finally turned his back in round 4, it was because Khabib was tired of keeping him right-side up.
“He couldn’t wait to get out of that fight. The only credit you get is for getting in there,” he added.
Despite some interest from fans in seeing the fighters duke it out in the ring, Malignaggi and McGregor have so far resisted the temptation to get serious.
With a farcical exhibition between Floyd Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa taking place on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, both Malignaggi and McGregor may think twice before being branded by that kind of criticism for a similar offering.
