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McGregor releases new Malignaggi spar pics as boxing fight rumours return

Conor McGregor has refueled talk of a possible boxing match with Paulie Malignaggi by posting more favourable pics of the pair’s by now notorious sparring session online.

The pair shared the sparring ring ahead of the Dubliner’s boxing match/event with Floyd Mayweather over two years ago, but have fallen out dramatically since.

Brooklyn native and respected TV pundit Malignaggi was upset with some of the pictures the two-weight UFC posted post the spar – particularly one which suggests McGregor dropped – the boxer-something which the former two weight world champ disputes, calling it a “push-down”.

UFC president Dana White would post footage of the incident but the trip to the canvas remains debated.

Malignaggi has since been calling for a boxing bout with the recently ‘retired’ MMA fighter and has sent numerous verbal barbs the way of the former Crumlin BC amateur.

Indeed, the American moved into the bareknuckle arena claiming it may help him secure a lucrative bout with the Irish combat sports star.

A bareknuckle fight with McGregor’s long time friend Artem Lobov has been arranged and may provide further narrative for a possible boxing bout between the former world champions in different codes. 

When Malignaggi slapped Lobov during a face to face at a press meeting yesterday McGregor immediately took to Twitter to post more pictures of his spar with the American.

21 images were dropped on Twitter and not surprisingly all made it appear as if McGregor had got the better of the spar.

Rumours instantly circulated with regard a possible future fight and there have suggestions the duo are playing the promotional long game in a bid to make a lucrative bout.

Malignaggi has previously revealed a number of promoters including Eddie Hearn have expressed in an interest in promoting the fight.

A McGregor Malignaggi fight may upset a lot of true boxing fans, but no doubt it would generate a massive payday for both and it would be further proof that boxing rather than MMA is where the biggest money at the very, very top end is at – with the UFC’s biggest ever star having twice had lace up the boxing gloves to secure his highest pay days.

 

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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