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      Conor McGregor calls Jake Paul a ‘DONKEY’ and reveals fight prediction between YouTube star and ex-UFC rival Nate Diaz

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      CONOR McGREGOR has backed old UFC rival Nate Diaz in his boxing match against “DONKEY” Jake Paul. Diaz crosses over to the ring for the first time on August 5 in Texas against YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul.
      Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions
      It came after he walked out on the UFC, where he had two classic bouts with McGregor.
      And it seems there is no hard feelings for the Irishman, who is tipping Diaz to beat Paul.
      He told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel: “I fancy him for it.
      “He’s a donkey that guy, the other cat, but a donkey has kick, so you’ve got to be weary of that.
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      “But, Nate will be peppering him, he’ll hit his face in and it will be Nate.”
      Paul, 26, suffered his first ever defeat in February, losing a split-decision to celebrity boxing rival Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
      But he snubbed a rematch to instead focus on Diaz, 38, who was a free agent after his UFC contract expired.
      It leaves a trilogy decider with McGregor, 34, up in the air but the former two-weight champion still has admiration Diaz and brother Nick, 39.
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      He said: “Yeah, yeah, [the relationship] is competitive, but it’s always been respect.
      “It’s always been respect, how could you not respect the Diaz brothers and their resume in the fight game.
      “Real fighters, what’s his promotion? Real fighters inc, fair play to him. You know, he’s a great fighter.
      “I spent, how many minutes did I spend in the octagon with him? 40 minutes, over half an hour.
      “Around 40 minutes inside the cage with the lad, it’s always going to be respect off of that.
      “And he gave the rematch instantly. That’s commendable, that’s real warrior stuff. So, for sure, I’m happy to see that respect, you know.”
      Nate Diaz after his rematch loss to Conor McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      I embarrassed Conor McGregor in sparring ahead of Floyd Mayweather fight but the footage will NEVER be released

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      PAULIE MALIGNAGGI claimed he embarrassed Conor McGregor in sparring – which is why he believes the full footage will never be released. The feud between the two started in the build up to McGregor’s lucrative crossover boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
      Conor McGregor in sparring with Paulie Malignaggi in 2017
      The sparring sessions caused a feud between the two
      Paulie Malignaggi would storm out of Conor McGregor’s camp
      Malignaggi ripped into the Irishman’s chances, which resulted in him being offered the chance to join the UFC superstar’s camp.
      The former world champion boxer sparred twice, but after leaked images and footage emerged, he stormed out of the camp.
      One clip included Malignaggi being put down, which the American argued was caused by a push not a punch.
      It has kept the rivalry alive to this day with no sign of the full sparring sessions ever being revealed.
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      Malignaggi, 42, told Betway: “I give Conor credit because he also knows his fanbase has a very low IQ.
      “He knows he can play them if he wants to – and he does.  So I don’t think we will ever get the real footage of the spar.
      “I actually know you’ll never get the real footage because the real footage embarrasses Conor.
      “So you’ll probably still continue to have these opinions of it.”
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      Malignaggi – retired from boxing during the spars – later lost to McGregor’s ex-training partner Artem Lobov, 36, in a bare-knuckle bout.
      Meanwhile McGregor, 34, was beaten by Mayweather, 46, in ten rounds of what was his pro boxing debut.
      And after sharing the ring with him, Malignaggi knew the result was inevitable ahead of time.
      He said: “Coming out of that spar I thought this has got to be the biggest money heist in the history of money.
      “This guy is so terrible and he’s going to fight Mayweather, probably the best boxer in the history of the sport.
      “Even though he’s retired, Mayweather is going to beat this guy with his eyes closed. And that’s basically how it went. He played with them.”
      Floyd Mayweathe beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: GETTY More

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      Conor McGregor and Eddie Hearn involved in ringside row during Katie Taylor’s fight card

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      EDDIE HEARN had a “friendly row” with Conor McGregor over his choice of matchmaking. McGregor was a special guest at ringside in Ireland for Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight against Chantelle Cameron.
      Conor McGregor with Eddie Hearn in DublinCredit: Getty
      The UFC superstar was left gutted following Taylor’s points loss but Hearn revealed he was upset well before the main event.
      In the co-headliner, lightweight Gary Cully was stunned to a first ever defeat after being knocked out by Jose Felix Jr.
      McGregor fumed at Hearn for choosing Felix as the opponent but the promoter defended his decision.
      He told iFL TV: “He never recovered from the first knockdown.
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      “Got overexcited, had his chin in the air, got hit by a Mexican who can punch.
      “I had a bit of a row, a friendly row, with Conor McGregor, because he said, ‘Why did you put him in with him?’
      “You’ve got to beat kids like that. Tyrone McKenna beat him, Sandor Martin beat him.
      “You are talking about Gary Cully being a world-class lightweight, you have to beat guys like that.
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      “He would have beaten him if he would have boxed smart, but it was a devastating defeat and he’s going to learn a lot from that.
      “He’s going to come back from that and maybe he needs to look to move up to 140lbs as well.
      “He looks so tired at that weight and that was 138lbs.”
      Cully, 27, was floored twice before being stopped on his feet by Felix, 31, losing for the first time in 17 bouts.
      And it was further heartbreak as Taylor, 36, lost a decision against Cameron, 32, for the undisputed super-lightweight titles.
      McGregor, 34, had the bout level as he took to Instagram in praise of his nation’s most beloved sports star.
      He posted: “Our hero! Thank you for an amazing event @katie_t86! I had the fight scored a draw.
      “A very close bout where you once again showed your heart, your skills, your fitness and your toughness. You are an Irish Warrior!
      “I love you Katie, I am honored to know you and be in your presence! Thank you so much!

      “Onwards and upwards we go! Just another day for Katie Tay! For God and for Country.”
      Katie Taylor consoled after defeat by Conor McGregorCredit: Sportsfile More

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      Fans fear for Nate Diaz against Jake Paul as ‘slow and loopy’ boxing training footage emerges

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      NATE DIAZ has fans fearing for him ahead of his fight with Jake Paul fight after footage of his boxing training emerged. The ex-UFC star faces YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul in his professional boxing debut on August 5 in Texas.
      Footage of Nate Diaz’s boxing training has been revealed
      And a clip has done the rounds on social media of Diaz hitting pads but it left some worrying for him.
      One said: “Slow and loopy is what I see, Nate has decent hands in MMA= junk hands in boxing.”
      Another added: “Oh lord… He going to sleep.”
      One agreed: “Jake Paul is gonna smoke Nate.”
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      Influencer boxer Slim Albaher tweeted: “Jake Paul is gonna sleep him.”
      It is unclear when the footage was recorded but others have thrown their support to Diaz.
      One said: “Easy win for Nate.”
      Another said: “Diaz is going to absolutely destroy Jake Paul.”
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      Paul, 26, was beaten for the first time in February, losing a split-decision in Saudi Arabia to Tommy Fury, 23.
      He then snubbed a rematch to instead turn his attention to Diaz, 38, who left the UFC last year when his contract expired.
      Paul said: “Nate Diaz was always the plan. I’ve always said – even in the Tommy Fury build up – that I wanted Nate Diaz after Tommy.
      “And that really was regardless of the outcome, I’ve always wanted to fight Nate Diaz, so he was always next on my list.
      “There’s always a bunch of options and one day you’re like, ‘I want to do this, I want to do that.’
      “But I went back to the Nate Diaz idea as like the original plan and he was ready and wiling to make the fight happen and it just made more sense than the Tommy Fury rematch right away.”
      Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions More

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      Eddie Hearn reveals Dana White ‘inspiration’ for dramatic 18-month body transformation and says ‘mate, give me the plan’

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      EDDIE HEARN has revealed UFC boss Dana White was the inspiration behind his body transformation.The boxing promoter, 43, who guides the careers of fighters such as Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor, has trimmed down his physique over the past 18 months.

      Dana White remains ripped despite being 53 years of ageCredit: Instagram
      He has lost 37 pounds across that period of time, dropping from 19st 11lbs to 17st 2lbs.
      And he has now spoken about how White, 53, gave him the motivation to improve his own physical wellbeing.
      The UFC chief went on a three-year body transformation after being told he had ten years to live.
      And speaking about how that galvanised him to get in shape, Hearn told Men’s Health: “Look at Dana White. I spoke to him two days ago. He’s been working with a guy called Gary Brecka, who has a company that tells you how long you have left to live.
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      Eddie Hearn admits he felt sluggish before losing the weight over the past 18 monthsCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Hearn has even squeezed in sessions with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram
      “Before he started working with him, he apparently had a life expectancy of 10.4 years. Now, they’ve completely changed around his insulin, his glucose, his cholesterol, everything.
      “I look at Dana now and physically as well as from a business point of view, he’s a bit of an inspiration for me.
      “His physique is my dream physique. I texted him about the pictures that he put out and I went ‘Mate, give me the plan.’
      “He said, he used to wake up coughing in the night and couldn’t tie his shoelaces in the morning.
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      “It wasn’t quite as bad as that for me, but when I used to put my trousers on in the morning, I’d feel s**t.”
      Hearn’s “sluggish” feeling was one of the reasons he decided to get in shape.
      He also insists the Conor Benn doping saga was another motivating factor behind his fitness frenzy as he attempted to deal with the intensity of the situation.
      He went on to add: “I knew I needed to make a change, but there’s this perception that men in their 40s who get fit and start to dress a bit younger or cooler, are having a midlife crisis.
      “The reality is, it’s not that at all, it’s just you’re realising you need to make a change because life’s passing you by. I’m not 28 anymore. I’m coming up to my 50s.
      “I want to live a great life, and the only way I’m going to do that, with all the pressure and the hate is to keep myself in shape.
      “Because when you’re in better shape and mentally in a better place, all the other stuff is a lot easier to deal with.”
      White, left, has been an inspiration to Hearn, right, with the pair seen here with Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Instagram More

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      Conor McGregor’s ex-sparring partner makes stunning prediction for fight between UFC icon and Jake Paul

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      PAULIE MALIGNAGGI has thrown another dig at Conor McGregor – by backing Jake Paul to knock him out. There is no love lost between Malignaggi and McGregor following their bitter sparring sessions in 2017.
      Pauli Malignaggi sparring Conor McGregorCredit: Twitter
      Jake Paul in training for his next fightCredit: @jakepaul
      And the former world champion boxer has shown no signs of letting his grudge go in the years since.
      It has led him to pick YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul, 26, beating McGregor, 34, in the ring amid the prospect of a mega-fight.
      Malignaggi, 42, told Betway: “I think Jake Paul would knock Conor out.
      “Conor is too susceptible to those loopy shots and Jake hits hard enough that only needs to hit you with one or two of them.
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      “I think Conor has decent sharp shots but I don’t think Conor has the discipline to stay with those little sharp shots for a certain amount of rounds.
      “I think he would fall apart because he doesn’t have a lot of heart. Conor has no balls.
      “If you take Conor a few rounds he already has this very big discomfort and mistakes naturally create themselves. You don’t even have to create them anymore.
      “I think he would do OK for a couple of rounds, but if you didn’t get Jake out in a couple of rounds, I think Jake would knock him out, and he would probably knock out with a big shot.”
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      McGregor sparred Malignaggi twice before his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
      But following leaked images and footage of the session, Malignaggi stormed out of the Irishman’s camp.
      McGregor would go on to lose to Mayweather in ten rounds and despite teasing a return to the ring it remains his only boxing bout.
      And having shared the ring with the ex-UFC champion behind closed doors, Malignaggi claimed he knew the result was inevitable.
      He said: “Coming out of that spar I thought this has got to be the biggest money heist in the history of money.
      “This guy is so terrible and he’s going to fight Mayweather, probably the best boxer in the history of the sport.
      “Even though he’s retired, Mayweather is going to beat this guy with his eyes closed. And that’s basically how it went. He played with them.”
      Paulie Malignaggi sparred twice with Conor McGregor
      Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: Reuters More

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      Floyd Mayweather, 46, shares boxing masterclass with fans left ‘mesmerised’ by legend’s hands

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      FLOYD MAYWEATHER wowed fans with a “mesmerising” boxing masterclass aged 46 – with one fan hailing the “best defence ever”.The American was repeatedly labelled the “GOAT” as he barely broke sweat in a slick routine that bamboozled his opponent with the pad.
      Floyd Mayweather looked as smooth as ever during a dazzling clipCredit: Instagram / @floydmayweather
      The American tied his pad rival in knows with effortless movementCredit: Instagram / @floydmayweather
      The five-weight ex-world champ was a picture of grace as he weaved around, even continuing to punch effortlessly when he looked away to the camera.
      Mayweather last fought professionally in beating UFC icon Conor McGregor in 2017.
      But he showed again how he’s able to look untarnished in exhibition bouts as he bobbed and swayed smoothly.
      One amazed fan posted: “This. Is. Awesome.”
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      And many agreed with this observer: “Pad guy gets more of a workout than Floyd.”
      A third noted Mayweather had the trait of a great – making his craft appear so easy.
      The boxing enthusiast wrote: “Most can’t fathom how impressive this is. Not just physically but cognitively If you’ve ever done pad work, impossible not to watch on repeat.”
      Another said: “Best defence there’s ever been.”
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      And there was a clear feeling that, even in middle age, this was timeless magic.
      One viewer stated: “An excellent fighter who’s clearly kept himself in shape. One of the best to ever do it.”
      Mayweather still rakes in the cash with exhibition contests against stars from the worlds of martial arts and social media.
      And McGregor is keen for a re-match despite his tenth-round stoppage-defeat six years ago.
      He told Inside Fighting: “I’ve had a long time to analyse it, happy with how it went the last time. I’d for sure look to (KO Mayweather).”
      The Irishman would have to get near Mayweather to do that.
      And on the latest video evidence from the Pretty Boy, that’s wishful thinking. More

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      Ebanie Bridges stuns in low cut dress as she gets up close and personal with Conor McGregor at Katie Taylor fight

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      EBANIE BRIDGES was a dazzling distraction for Conor McGregor as he watched pal Katie Taylor suffer world title agony.The Blonde Bomber sparkled in a low-cut dress as Chantelle Cameron inflicted Taylor’s first defeat following a thriller in Dublin.
      Aussie boxer Ebanie Bridges helped cheer Conor McGregor up on the night his Irish pal Katie Taylor lost for the first timeCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Ebanie sparkled when she met up with former UFC king McGregorCredit: INSTAGRAM More