Things got intense during a sparring session between UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor and retired professional boxer Paulie Malignaggi.
Recently, McGregor brought in Malignaggi to help him prepare for his professional boxing debut. Later this month, McGregor is scheduled to square off against Floyd “Money” Mayweather in a boxing match.
Boxing referee Joe Cortez recently did an interview and revealed that things got intense while McGregor and Malignaggi were trading shots inside the ring.
“It was the real thing, I had to stop the action, say, ‘You guys are a little out of control here, you’ve got to stop this’. You know, they got a little rough,” Cortez said.
“They were both roughing each other up and I had to stop the action like it was a regular fight.
“They were holding too much – they were trying to punch each other.
“So I had to call, ‘Time, alright guys you’ve got to stop this right now, I want a good, clean, strong – give me a sportsman-like conduct you understand?’”
Mayweather vs. McGregor will take place Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Joe Cortez tells @CommishRandyG & @gerrycooney that the sparring between @TheNotoriousMMA & @PaulMalignaggi nearly got out-of-control. pic.twitter.com/volgj9MfDV
— SiriusXM Boxing (@SiriusXMBoxing) August 1, 2017
