Former Boxing Champ Admits: Even a "YouTube Boxer" Would Beat Conor McGregor in the Ring
Former WBA welterweight champion and famed Conor McGregor sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi believes that McGregor's boxing abilities are "brutal," and "even a YouTube boxer like AnesonGib would beat Conor McGregor in a boxing ring."
Malignaggi spoke to Lord Ping in relation to a hypothetical matchup between McGregor and Jake Paul in both MMA and boxing. According to Malignaggi, Paul would stand a chance against McGregor in MMA if he could "trouble him a little bit," adding "He's tired after 30 seconds. He's got no balls. ... He gets scared out there."
“Conor McGregor's boxing skills are so brutal that I think even a YouTube boxer like AnesonGib would beat Conor McGregor in a boxing ring. I worked with Gib for his first last year against Austin McBroom and Gib brings a lot of stress and a lot of pressure. At this point, I think he'd even beat up Conor McGregor in a boxing ring.” (h/t Lord Ping)
Of course Malignaggi and McGregor have traded barbs in the past, as far back as McGregor's boxing super fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.. Malignaggi joined Team McGregor to spar the Irish MMA star in preparation for the fight.
Drama ensued when Team McGregor released sparring footage of Malignaggi allegedly being knocked down, in addition to snapshots that heavily favored McGregor, which Malignaggi heavily disputed:
Malignaggi's defense was never substantiated, so McGregor's boxing stock increased prior to the Mayweather fight. It was almost like a clever marketing ploy, and Malignaggi knew it:
"People say, 'You're embarrassed he knocked you down' but he didn't knock s*** down. He didn't embarrass me,'" Malignaggi remarked in an interview with boxing Manager Sam Jones.
"People wish so badly that they could see the full video and be right, but you're never going to get the full video. ... I beat the s*** out of your man, he's a bum! This is classic combat sports promoting."
The drama between McGregor and Malignaggi will likely never come to a conclusion, but it still makes for some interesting interactions.
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