New: Paulie Doesn’t Sound Too Optimistic After Sparring With Conor, Thinks He’ll Improve Before The Fight

Paulie Malignaggi doesn’t sound too optimistic about the punching power of UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor.

Next month, McGregor will make his professional boxing debut. He is scheduled to fight Floyd “Money” Mayweather in a 12-round bout.

In preparation for the fight, McGregor brought in Malignaggi as a sparring partner.

In a recent interview, Malignaggi was asked about McGregor’s punching power.

“It was ok. It was fine. It was respectable,” Malignaggi said. “It wasn’t out of this world but it was something you’d respect.”

Malignaggi went on to say that McGregor was awkward with his striking, but knew what he was doing and had a game plan.

Despite not having any professional boxing experience, McGregor is one of the most lethal strikers in the world of MMA. McGregor’s knockout power helped him win two different UFC titles.

Mayweather vs. McGregor will take place Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.