As the fight draws to a close, camps have amped up their training, as well. From Conor McGregor’s end, it means more intensity in sparring sessions.
Hall-of-fame referee Joe Cortez, who was tapped by the Irishman’s camp for rule orientation and to oversee sparring, stated that McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi “got a little rough and out of control” in one of the recent times they were in the practice ring together. Malignaggi did corroborate Cortez’s statement when he spoke to ESPN.com on Wednesday.
"Lot of violence. I went in there to prove a point,” Malignaggi said.