FORMER two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi has left Conor McGregor’s training camp for his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather after a row erupted over pictures of their sparring sessions.
Malignaggi, who retired earlier this year, was brought in by McGregor for sparring, with referee Joe Cortez overseeing the sessions to make sure Conor properly understands the Queensbury Rules.
After a picture of Malignaggi on the deck during a sparring session was released, Paulie decided to leave McGregor’s Las Vegas camp and took to social media to explain why.
“I just wanted to clear the air. I am leaving the McGregor training camp today. I came with the best intentions and intended to help out. Just a part of such a big event in this capacity excited me. I believe Conor and I have a mutual respect inside the ring, earned from each other with some good work over two sparring sessions,” he said in a statement.
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
“It’s some stuff outside the ring and some ways some things were handled in training camp that I didn’t agree with that made me come to this decision. It’s not my place to dictate terms in a training camp that is not mine, but it’s my place to decide if I want to be part of it. I will not give away anything tactical that I saw in two sparring sessions with Conor.
“For what it’s worth, they have my word. The things that upset me though I will speak about it in time. I wish team McGregor well in the rest of their preparations and look forward to being back in Vegas to work fight week on Showtime.”
Malignaggi had previously been complimentary about McGregor whenever asked about their sparring sessions, and always refused to reveal any details of what Conor is working on.
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
However, he is now noticeably frustrated and claims he handled McGregor in their sparring sessions, and is urging the Irishman to release unedited CCTV footage of those rounds.
