Former Boxing Champ Paulie Malignaggi Claims Conor McGregor Avoided a Fight with Him

Sparring Rivalry

Former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi has once again lashed out at Conor McGregor, his bitter sparring rival. In 2017, Malignaggi entered McGregor's training camp ahead of his crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather. The two sparred twice in Las Vegas, with the second spar becoming infamous due to leaked images and footage. Malignaggi claims that McGregor wisely avoided a grudge match with him because he would have "destroyed" him both in the press conferences and in the ring.

The Disputed Knockdown

The feud between Malignaggi and McGregor started when the American boxer was allegedly knocked down during their second spar. Malignaggi stormed out of the camp, and the controversy has continued ever since. While a boxing bout between the two never materialized, Malignaggi now believes that McGregor, who went on to lose to Mayweather, is nothing more than a "punching bag."

"McGregor is a Quitter"

Malignaggi didn't hold back in his criticism of McGregor's fighting abilities. He stated that McGregor's success was due to great marketing and that he lacks the guts and willingness to succeed that a true fighter possesses. Malignaggi even compared McGregor's career to that of heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, claiming that McGregor is on a different level of quitting. He concluded by saying that McGregor will continue to be a punching bag unless he changes his approach.