Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi doesn’t believe UFC star Conor McGregor will face him anytime soon.
The Italian-American, who recently signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, immediately targeted his old sparring partner.
Back in 2017, Malignaggi and McGregor shared a ring. The pair traded blows as McGregor prepared to face Floyd Mayweather.
Despite initial mutual respect, things soon turned sour.
Malignaggi was unhappy as one-sided sparring evidence was presented on social media. It suggested he was dropped and dominated by McGregor. Something Malignaggi obviously disputes.
Judging by McGregor’s unconventional performance against Mayweather, Malignaggi holds solid claims to the contrary.
“Everybody’s asking me these questions as if I have the video. But I can tell you until I turn blue what happened that day,” ‘The Magic Man’ exclusively told World Boxing News.
“If you want to ask the questions, he’s the one putting out clips to try and reheat things every few months. So then, I get asked the questions all over again.
“I think there comes a time for the media to go and ask Conor the hard questions, instead of being a fan of his.
“We don’t have to fight. I understand Conor’s fear but we don’t have to fight. Upload the full spar, unedited and untouched and let people decide for themselves.
“You do know I was coming off a cross country flight less than 24 hours before. You do know that I was retired and therefore not training.
“Also, you do know that you have to watch that with an open mind. “Otherwise it gets stopped and we don’t go twelve rounds.
“You’ve got to know that you can’t take a beating if you’re out of shape. If I take a twelve round beating, how do I go twelve rounds? – You have to be in better shape to take that.”
Almost two years have passed since the infamous training week. Since then, rumors of a fight between the two champions continues.
BARE KNUCKLE FIGHT
The BKFC are on board, Malignaggi is open to it, whilst the veteran is unsure McGregor holds the same desire.
“Of course, you got to offer Conor enough money for him to become a piñata. That’s what he’s shown us,” pointed out Malignaggi.
“If you offer Conor enough money he’ll be your personal piñata. I think he’s shown that the last few years.
“BKFC have more money than people realize. I think they’re willing to offer him enough money to be as my personal piñata.
“It’s just a matter of does he have the guts to take the deal because there won’t be any more money offered to him anymore.
“The money there is more than what he is going to make in the UFC. But that’s including that it would be a good fight. We’ll see.
“He’s basically becoming a punching bag anyway. It’s nothing to respect. It’s not like you have to go up to him and walk on eggshells.
“If the media want to know, it’s how you ask him the question,” he concluded.
Initial interview by Chandler Waller. Chandler Waller is a staff writer for World Boxing News. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerWaller
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