Malignaggi: McGregor a Scumbag, One of Biggest Dirtbags I Met
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, former two division champion Paulie Malignaggi revealed that Conor McGregor "whimpers like a girl" when he is hit by body shots.
The retired boxer quit as McGregor's sparring partner on Friday after photos of their sessions were leaked on social media, with the Irishmen preparing for his much-publicised fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. And in a string of tweets, Malignaggi hit out at UFC star McGregor's ability in the ring ahead of the super-fight.
McGregor is due to face unbeaten fighter Mayweather at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on August 26.
Malignaggi sparred twice with McGregor and became enraged after the the MMA superstar's team members leaked photos to social media that gave the impression that Malignaggi got dropped and took a beating.
McGregor added insult to injury after he stated on Showtime's All Access series that Malignaggi got his "ass whooped" in sparring.
In response, Malignaggi has continued the verbal assault.
"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," Malignaggi told The MMA Hour.
"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. I said 'there's no breaks here', and started hitting him to the body and he began to whimper. After 10 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 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."