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      ‘Bum’ Conor McGregor ‘can’t fight for s***’ blasts Paulie Malignaggi as bitter feud between pair continues

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      PAULIE MALIGNAGGI branded Conor McGregor a ‘bum’ who ‘can’t fight for s***’ as their war-of-words dragged on earlier this summer.
      The two have been feuding ever since they sparred in July 2017 as McGregor prepared to face Floyd Mayweather in a money-spinning crossover bout, which he lost in round 10.

      Paulie Malignaggi called Conor McGregor a ‘bum’ who ‘can’t fight for s***’

      After footage of the sparring was leaked online – including a disputed knockdown of Malignaggi – the former two-time champion stormed out of the Irishman’s camp and has taken every opportunity to publicly blast him since.
      And in an Instagram Q&A with boxing manager Sam Jones, Malignaggi, now a respected pundit and commentator, insisted The Notorious should not be given credit for beating 36-year-old Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds last January.
      He said: “I get a kick out of irking him, the guy’s a bum. The guy can’t fight for s***. They had to find him a half-dead guy in MMA to win a fight.
      “This guys gets his a** kicked by everybody, I’m not even trying to abuse him. This guy gets his a** kicked every time he fights, abuses the s*** out of him.

      “Donald Cerrone gave some good battles in his day but he had one foot out the door already.”
      Malignaggi has urged McGregor, 32, to release the full footage of their two spars, which were over eight and then 12 rounds, but his calls have been ignored.

      McGregor and Malignaggi had two sparring sessions in Las Vegas in 2017Credit: Refer to Caption

      Malignaggi stormed out of McGregor’s camp after leaked images and footage of the spar surfacedCredit: Refer to Caption

      Malignaggi insisted he was pushed down after McGregor claimed to have dropped the boxer
      The 40-year-old wanted to box the Irishman to settle the score, but instead faced Artem Lobov – a friend and training partner of McGregor’s – in a bare-knuckle fight, losing on points while also breaking his hand.

      Meanwhile the Irishman is returning to the cage at UFC 257 next year for a clash with Dustin Poirier.
      Malignaggi, who was four months retired when he sparred McGregor, insisted he ‘beat the s***’ out of the former two-weight UFC champion, and still maintains he was pushed down during their infamous spar, not floored.
      He said: “People say to me, ‘You’re embarrassed he knocked you down’ but he didn’t knock s*** down. He didn’t embarrass me.
      “People wish so badly they could see the full video and be right, but you’re never going to get the full video.
      “I beat the s*** of of your man, he’s a bum! This is classic combat sports promoting.”
      Before McGregor’s octagon comeback, he announced plans to once again box, and named Malignaggi as a possible opponent when telling ESPN he will win a world title in boxing.

      He revealed: “I’d like to box Paulie as well.
      “I already knocked him out but that’s a bit of buzz as well.
      “Paulie and a boxing bout. I want to box again and I will box again. I will get a boxing world title.”

      Exclusive: Jake Paul says he would ‘beat Conor McGregor’s a**’ ahead of appearance on Tyson vs Jones Jr undercard More

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      Jake Paul claims he would ‘kick Conor McGregor’s a***’ in the boxing ring – but admits he’s terrified by Mike Tyson

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      JAKE PAUL claims he would ‘kick Conor McGregor’s a***’ in the boxing ring – but admitted he is terrified of Mike Tyson.
      YouTube sensation Paul returns to the ring this weekend with a fight against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.

      Jake Paul admitted he is terrified of Mike TysonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      McGregor is making his UFC return in January and Paul is adamant he has the beating of the Irish fighter.
      Paul told BT Sport Boxing: “These MMA guys go to practice every day and have to spend their whole day on one thing – elbows, knees, grappling, take downs so there’s a lot they have to work on.
      “But I’ve been going into the gym for the past three years and all I’ve been focusing on is boxing, so come over into my arena and you’re going to get your a** beat.
      “Jake Paul vs Conor McGregor will happen. People think that’s crazy and Jake’s going to get his a** kicked but we’ll see.”

      Tyson makes his long-awaited comeback on Saturday in an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr in Los Angeles but Paul is steering clear of challenging the infamous heavyweight to a fight.
      Paul expects Iron Mike to be too powerful for his opponent although claims Jones Jr’s best chance is to prolong the fight.
      Paul said: “I think Mike is so powerful and that power is just going to shock Roy especially with them being a lot older.

      How Jake Paul and Nate Robinson compare ahead of their fight

      “You can’t take as many punches like that. I think Mike wins in the second round.

      “If it goes into the later rounds Roy could potentially come back and win on points just because he has that speed and that distance control.”
      Paul is facing Robinson with the former NBA star making his boxing debut on the undercard of Tyson’s fight.

      Exclusive: Jake Paul says he would ‘beat Conor McGregor’s a**’ ahead of appearance on Tyson vs Jones Jr undercard More

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      in Soccer

      Five footballers who went into boxing and combat sports after Marcin Wasilewski’s MMA switch including Wayne Bridge

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      FOOTBALLERS are always encouraged to think about what career path they will take when they hang up their boots. Some choose to go into coaching, others invest in property. Some decide to knock lumps out of one another. Former Leicester defender Marcin Wasilewski has become the latest ex-pro to swap shin pads for mouth guards. […] More

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      Meet Rashad Coulter, ex-UFC, Bellator and American Football star who switched to boxing to face Hasim Rahman’s son

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      RASHAD COULTER is the ex-UFC and Bellator heavyweight who crossed over to boxing on a mission to revive his career.
      Coulter faces cruiserweight replacement Hasim Rahman Jr on Saturday on the undercard of Mike Tyson’s comeback against Roy Jones Jr.

      Rashad Coulter is the ex-UFC and Bellator heavyweight who crossed over to boxingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Coulter in training camp ahead of his fight on Mike Tyson’s undercard Credit: Twitter / @rashad_coulter

      Before his fighting career, he played American Football for 17 years.
      But in 2010 his good friend Muhammed Lawal – known as ‘King Mo’ – introduced Coulter to Muay Thai.
      Within a year of training he made his MMA debut, winning by knockout.
      After five fights on the local circuit in Texas, Coulter was given his first big break with a stoppage win against Jeremiah O’Neal under the Bellator banner.

      It didn’t go unnoticed, as three victories and two years later the heavy-hitter was signed by the UFC.
      But he suffered a disastrous start in MMA’s elite, losing three on the spin, all by knockout.
      His fourth and final fight for the UFC did see him successful outpointing Hu Yaozong in a light-heavyweight fight, which he missed weight for.

      Coulter had four fights in the UFC but only one once Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      The American’s last MMA fight was in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      It spelled the end of the road for his time in the octagon, but the 38-year-old had one more MMA bout, losing to Isaac Villanueva last year.

      Despite his up and down career in the cage, Coulter is unbeaten in his four boxing matches.
      He made his debut in the ring six years ago, winning on the cards, but has since stopped his other three opponents.
      Coulter was due to face Viddal Riley, also unbeaten in four bouts, this weekend but the 23-year-old Londoner has pulled out injured.
      Instead, he will fight Rahman Jr, who is 9-0 and the son of Hasim Sr, the man who knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001.
      Coulter grew up watching his next opponent’s dad, and will now share the ring with his son.
      He said to MMA Island: “I’m blessed to still be on the card.
      “Hasim is a skilled dude who has grown up around boxing, so it’s a new opponent but the same plan.

      Coulter was meant to fight Viddal Riley Credit: Twitter / @rashad_coulter

      YouTuber Jake Paul pictured with Coulter’s new opponent Hasim Rahman Jr Credit: https://twitter.com/_HasimRahmanJr/status/1314032111276290049

      Rahman Sr famously knocked out Lennox Lewis Credit: Reuters
      “I know he is southpaw and he switches but my job is to fight my fight and not let him dictate the pace.
      “He is tough and has a good record, I have never ran from a fight and this will be great. I grew up watching his pops so this will be fun.
      “But again this is strictly business.”
      With the mass attention surrounding this weekend’s event, Coulter is looking to capitalise on the hype train and book a ticket back into the UFC.
      He told BJ Penn.com: “For me, it opens up more boxing doors and in MMA, it could open up bigger MMA fights like me even going back to the UFC.
      “It is a big platform for me.
      “My heart is always in MMA, the UFC is a great promotion and I would love to be back in the UFC.
      “There are several fights at 205 I want in the UFC. If I go finish Viddal, it will open more doors in MMA.”

      Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr – Live stream, UK start time, date, undercard, and rules for massive boxing fight More

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      Conor McGregor will ‘definitely’ fight Manny Pacquiao in 2021, according to Audie Attar – who manages BOTH fighters

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      CONOR McGREGOR and Manny Pacquiao will ‘definitely’ fight next year, according to the man who manages the pair.
      Audie Attar represents the pair of superstars with his Paradigm SM company.

      Conor McGregor is set to fight Manny Pacquiao next year, according to their shared promoterCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And he reckons fans will not be waiting long before they step into the ring together.
      McGregor will make his UFC comeback against Dustin Poirier on January 23.
      But after that, attention may well turn to the veteran Filipino.
      Attar told Bloomberg TV: “As it relates to Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, Conor has a fight on January 23 against Dustin Poirier.

      “He will be handling business against Dustin first.
      “Conor has come out and said he wants to fight Manny, [and] Manny has come out and said he wants to fight Conor.
      “As I stated publicly before, we have had conversations.
      “So, that is a fight we are definitely going to make because both fighters want it and there seems to be an interest from the fans all around the world.”

      Pacquiao has not fought since beating Keith Thurman in July 2019 for the WBA welterweight world titleCredit: EPA

      How McGregor and Pacquiao stack up ahead of their proposed fight

      McGregor famously fought Floyd Mayweather as he switched across from MMA to boxing in August 2017.
      Since then he has competed in the UFC twice – losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 and then beating Donald Cerrone this January.
      But talk of a mega bout with Pacquiao intensified when the eight-weight world champion joined Paradigm in October, making negotiations much simpler.
      The 41-year-old, who is a Senator of the Philippines, currently holds WBA welterweight title thanks to his record-breaking victory over Keith Thurman in July last year, his 71st and most-recent bout.
      And McGregor could face off with Pacquiao in the Middle East but Mayweather’s uncle Jeff thinks the Irishman would be knocked out inside round one.
      He suggested his nephew toyed with McGregor for their ten-round showdown and said: “I think Floyd could have knocked Conor McGregor out anytime he wanted to.
      “Just like they were talking about him [McGregor] fighting Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t play with his a**. He’d knock him out in one round.
      “Any other fighter other than Floyd would knock Conor McGregor out in one or two rounds.”

      Audie Attar represents both McGregor and Pacquiao with Paradigm SMCredit: Instagram @audieattar

      Joe Rogan says Conor McGregor fighting ‘one of the greatest boxers of all time’ Manny Pacquiao is ‘bonkers’ More

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      Manny Pacquiao ‘did much worse’ than Conor McGregor against Floyd Mayweather, claims ex-UFC star Chael Sonnen

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      CONOR McGREGOR fought better than Manny Pacquiao did against Floyd Mayweather, according to ex-UFC star Chael Sonnen.
      Pacquiao was outboxed over 12 rounds against Mayweather in 2015 in the richest fight in boxing history.

      Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao over 12 rounds in 2015 Credit: AFP – Getty

      Conor McGregor lost to Mayweather in 2017 Credit: AP:Associated Press

      Former UFC champion McGregor was then unsuccessful against the American legend two years later, as he was stopped in round ten.
      But Sonnen reckons PacMan ‘did much worse’ in his attempt to beat Mayweather when compared to McGregor’s effort.
      And the former UFC title challenger even backed The Notorious to fight Pacquiao, having already shared the ring with Mayweather.
      He explained: “Pacquiao did much worse with Floyd than Conor did.

      “If that’s the only thing we have to compare it to, then let’s do the fight. Manny Pacquiao? One of the best ever?
      “All of those things are true but he’s already done it once and he did it with Floyd, who’s better than Pacquiao.
      “I’m just saying, we don’t how good Conor is.”
      McGregor, 32, made his boxing debut the night he fought Mayweather, 43, who went on to retire a perfect 50-0.

      The Irishman did win some of the early rounds and ended the fight having landed 111 punches.
      In contrast, Filipino icon Pacquiao, 41, only scored with 81 shots, despite having two more rounds to do so.
      But Mayweather had not boxed for two years before facing McGregor, and claimed press ups and sit ups were his sole training methods before the bout.
      McGregor has vowed to return to the ring and believes he will even win a world title in boxing.
      It looked as though he could have even faced Pacquiao after revealing the pair were in talks.
      Instead, he is now in line for a UFC return having signed to rematch Dustin Poirier – who he beat in 2014 – in a January 23 headliner.
      But McGregor did reveal he will use the fight against southpaw Poirier, 31, in preparation for fellow left-hander Pacquiao.

      Correct. Southpaw box style. Continue to sharpen my MMA skills with some tough competition, while leading into my Manny bout preparation.It’s not easy going between both sports and then coming back to the one sport again.Just want to keep sharp guys, that’s all. It’s only fair. https://t.co/PnjHb4VP9j
      — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 13, 2020

      Joe Rogan says Conor McGregor fighting ‘one of the greatest boxers of all time’ Manny Pacquiao is ‘bonkers’ More

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      Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 43, to fight in Tokyo on February 28 on same show as MMA event ‘MEGA 2021’

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      FLOYD MAYWEATHER is set to make another sporting comeback – but it may not be boxing.
      The Money attended a press conference to confirm his appearance at a show in Tokyo on February 28.

      Floyd Mayweather is set for another return to sporting action in Tokyo in February

      But it is still unclear whether the 43-year-old will be stepping into the boxing ring or the mixed martial arts octagon.
      He would be on the same show as new MMA event MEGA 2021 at the Tokyo Dome.
      talkSPORT boxing editor Michael Benson tweeted: “Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring for a fight at Tokyo Dome on Feb 28th.
      “Details scarce, but Floyd called into a presser to announce he would compete on same show as new MMA event ‘MEGA 2021’.”

      Mayweather has had one professional boxing bout since 2015 as he came back to dispatch Conor McGregor in 2017 to seal his 50-0 record.
      He hasn’t been involved in any fight since blasting away kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo in 2018.
      SunSport exclusively revealed in July that Mayweather – who won 15 world titles during his glittering career – was in talks about a comeback fight in the Far East.
      The American himself then confirmed the news, however due to the coronavirus crisis, he has not been able to lace up the gloves again this year.

      The Money appeared at a press conference for the MEGA 2021 event held at the Tokyo Dome on February 28

      And then speaking on his Instagram last week, he added that he would be heading to Tokyo to fight.
      Speaking to his 24million followers, he said: “Tokyo, Japan. I am coming back in 2021.
      “I know the Olympics is in Japan in 2021 but me, myself, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather and my team will be doing something big in Tokyo Dome.
      “Trust line, I want to say thank you for treating me good and treating my team good. Japan, I am on my way.”

      Mayweather’s last professional bout saw him beat Conor McGregor under boxing regulationsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The American thumped kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition on New Year’s Eve in 2018Credit: AFP – Getty

      Floyd Mayweather says he’s coming back to Japan for ‘something big; at Tokyo Dome in 2021 More

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      Terence Crawford open to crossover fight with Conor McGregor as ‘money talks’ and UFC star ‘not a real good wrestler’

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      TERENCE CRAWFORD admitted he would face Conor McGregor as ‘money talks’ and said the UFC star is ‘not a real good wrestler’.
      Crawford, who defends his WBO welterweight title against Kell Brook, was subject to talks with McGregor earlier this year.

      Terence Crawford admitted he would face Conor McGregor as ‘money talks’Credit: Mikey Williams

      Crawford said McGregor is ‘not a real good wrestler’Credit: Rex Features

      His promoter Bob Arum wanted to speak with UFC boss about a pair of crossover fights, one in the boxing ring and the other inside the octagon.
      But Crawford, 33, who wrestled during high school, would be willing to make the move over to MMA to challenge McGregor, 32, if the cash was right.
      He told TMZ Sports: “They put that money up, hell yeah I’ll go over there and fight him.
      “Conor is a big talent in the Octagon, and I’m a big talent in the boxing ring. Money talks.

      “To keep it real, Conor’s not a real good wrestler. He may kick the s*** out of you.
      “You gotta worry about them kicks to the head and them elbows more than him grabbing you.
      “It’d be other things that you’d be having to worry about other than wrestling you.”
      Crawford had never before shown an interest in switching to the UFC before Arum announced plans to negotiate a deal with White.

      Despite the idea, the promoters appeared to have never discussed the two-fight proposal.
      White did help promote McGregor’s lucrative boxing debut in 2017 which he lost in ten rounds against Floyd Mayweather.
      White himself is still in talks with 43-year-old Mayweather, who is contemplating a comeback.
      McGregor’s also appears to have a future in the boxing business having revealed talks to fight Manny Pacquaio, 41.
      For now, he is instead plotting a return to the UFC to rematch Dustin Poirier – who he beat in 2014 – with the duo offered a headliner in January.
      Afterwards, McGregor wants to fight Pacquaio, and will use his bout against southpaw Poirier, 31, to prepare for left-hander PacMan.

      Joe Rogan says Conor McGregor fighting ‘one of the greatest boxers of all time’ Manny Pacquiao is ‘bonkers’ More