Paulie Malignaggi quits McGregor’s camp

By Boxing News - 08/04/2017 - Comments

Image: Paulie Malignaggi quits McGregor’s camp

By Jeff Aranow: After sparring twice with UFC star Conor McGregor, Paulie Malignaggi quit his camp on Thursday shortly after 2 photos leaked from someone, showing Malignaggi appearing to get the worst of it during one of the sparring sessions. Malignaggi recently joined McGregor’s training camp to help him get ready for his August 26 mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Malignaggi didn’t state the reason for why he quit the camp, but one would think that the leaked photos might have something to do with it. One of the photos shows Malignaggi on his back having been knocked down or possibly knocked out by McGregor. Malignaggi is flat on his back with his hands and feet in the air, which could mean he was either just knocked down or possibly knocked out.

The other photo shows McGregor landing a shot on a red-faced Malignaggi. His face looked beet red and swollen, as if he’d taken punishment during the session. Malignaggi says the photo of him on his back was from him being pushed down by McGregor. The two of them seem to be very far apart during the photo. If McGregor pushed Malignaggi down, then he had enough time to move to the center of the ring after pushing him down. Malignaggi is next to the ropes. Malignaggi’s face looked worse than I can remember him ever looking in a fight. McGregor must hit really hard to do the damage he did to Malignaggi’s face.

Malignaggi said he wouldn’t give information about what took place during the 2 sparring sessions to the boxing public.

Here’s what Malignaggi said on his Twitter:

”Only his personal photographers allowed in the gym. Don’t just invent you’re own reality of things because it’s how u wish it to be buddy. 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. I actually beat his [bleep], 24 hrsoff a flight 2 lol, which is why I’m saying post the vid, I try not 2 be petty but seems it’s late 4 that now. I came to help this camp out, not to be exploited, now you’re gonna get the truth though. Post FULL UNEDITED VIDEO FROM TUES night #Ethics. 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. It’s 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.”

I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were Malignaggi waiting for the full video to be released from the sparring sessions. Obviously, Malignaggi made a mistake in choosing to work as a sparring partner. Malignaggi is too well known in boxing, and he’s got a got a career as a broadcaster. It wouldn’t be a big deal if Malignaggi was an unknown sparring partner. I don’t think anyone would have bothered leaking photos of the sparring sessions.