Paulie Malignaggi, to non-boxing fans, would have been little more than a name a few weeks ago. Now, thanks to becoming a sparring partner with Conor McGregor ahead of that bout with Floyd Mayweather, pretty much everyone knows who he is.
And murmurs have gathered pace, suggesting McGregor's next move would be to have a boxing match with Malignaggi to generate yet more hype and continue his boxing career.
The former boxer has even dropped an offer for the Irishman, telling MMA Hour: "I'm all about it, man. I tell you, I'll make it winner takes all. I'm willing to risk fighting him for free just to punch him in the mouth again and again and again. That's how confident I am they can't beat me.
Advert
"I would make it winner takes all just for the pleasure of sinking my fist back into his teeth again. That's how confident I am.
Credit: PA
"You have to keep in mind that Joe (Cortez) is talking about how competitive sparring was. This was me at about 35-40 percent. Conor gets stopped by me. If Conor doesn't get stopped by me - and I'm a guy who doesn't get a lot of stoppages - I should get penalised at least a portion of my purse just for not stopping the guy."
Advert
Interesting.
The former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBA Welterweight champion was drafted in to help McGregor train for the fight in Las Vegas on 26 August, but their relationship deteriorated after pictures surfaced online of McGregor apparently putting Malignaggi on the canvas.
On top of that, pictures of the 36-year-old looking worse for wear after some mean-looking shots from the two-weight UFC Champion also went viral.
Footage emerged of the pair scrapping, showing The Notorious putting the former champion on the mat. After a media storm, Malignaggi quit the training camp, bringing an awful lot of attention onto himself.
Advert
Days after Malignaggi posted a statement on Friday morning explaining that he has decided to leave after just two sessions, UFC president Dana White then released footage of his sparring session with McGregor.
The footage shows McGregor's infamous 'knockdown' of Malignaggi in the ring. Was it a knock down or a push down?
Credit: Dana White
Advert
Next, he was filmed having a laugh with Mayweather, who claimed they were good friends and that he had sent him to spar with McGregor to spy on him, before this latest plot twist.
Personally I think that if this next fight's going to happen, it should be a four-way Tables, Ladders and Chairs match with Mayweather and Nate Diaz at Wrestlemania. But that's just me.
Topics: Conor Mcgregor, Boxing, UFC