Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather: Paulie Malignaggi reveals he furiously quit McGregor’s training camp after Instagram image was released making out that he got knocked down in sparring
New Yorker has unveiled how he went about sparring with the UFC superstar but was not impressed with the set-up around him
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI has revealed he furiously quit the Conor McGregor training camp after an image was released on the UFC star's Instagram making out that he was knocked down.
Malignaggi, 36, slated the McGregor camp and was not pleased about an image that was released showing him on the canvas and how the picture was explained as if McGregor knocked him down.
However, the photographer who took the image, McGregor's personal photographer, Dave Fogarty, said that Malignaggi wasn't pushed and how the former boxing champion was indeed dropped by McGregor.
Fogarty said: "There no conspiracy, there [was] no Photoshop, just pure unadulterated power.”
But Malignaggi, 36, had a different version of events after spending time at McGregor’s training gym and being unimpressed with the set-up.
And he did not hold back as he blasted the Irishman's entourage ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather on August 26.
Malignaggi told the : "It's about ego, and I'm not an ass-kisser like the guys around him. It's all about status.
"He's a scumbag. It's all about who kisses his ass better. I get to the gym the next day and he has all sorts of dignitaries there: [former UFC CEO] Lorenzo Fertita, [UFC president] Dana White, and his agent.
"I couldn't even bring my trainer in and normally it was so private you had to leave your phone in a box. I thought, 'This guy is banking on stopping me tonight'.
"I was angry but I knew I'd come prepared.
"He got better from the first time to the second time but it's still new to him so the increments he's growing at are quite small.
"My reactions and timing started to come back so I got way better from the first one.
"He did well for five rounds but from six on he became more hit-able. I'm trash talking all the time, telling him he can't hang with me, he's not used to these body shots.
"He stopped talking because he wanted to save his energy. He pushed me down during one of his worst rounds because he needed a break.
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"I said, 'there's no breaks here', and started hitting him to the body and he began to whimper.
"After ten rounds I was spent but I did 11 and 12 because I said I would, and he came on stronger.
"I remember thinking he did show some character to come back the way he did, but if I had been as consistent as I had been, would he still have shown the same character?
"That's what I wanted to find out the next time.
"I've met a few scumbags in my life but this guy is one of the biggest dirtbags I've ever met in my life, bar none.
"I don't care if we never speak again. My life will be fine if I never see Conor McGregor again.
"I regret everything. I don't want to be famous in my life.
"In my 20s I did but everyone goes through that stage. I'm happy with what I have, I don't need to be famous and I didn't do this to gain some social media followers.
"I wanted it to be a new experience, and to add to the book of memories in my mind. It's certainly in my book of memories but it wasn't the experience I wanted it to be."