There have been some interesting sparring partner developments in the camps of Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather.
We already knew Conor McGregor had drafted in professional boxer and former UFC fighter Dashon Johnson for his camp. Johnson made that revelation on Facebook last week.
Although Johnson is 22-21-3 as a professional boxer, he has sparred with the best of them. The 29-year-old helped prepare Manny Pacquaio for his ‘Fight of the Century’ against Mayweather back in 2015.
He has featured in quite a few of McGregor’s viral sparring photos.
I am not there pic.twitter.com/JnfDNcuMgb
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 26, 2017
What about that other chap who was snapped getting rifled with an uppercut by McGregor, you say? That’s none other than Tyrone welterweight Tiernan Bradley.
The 20-year-old is a 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist and a 2017 Irish elite semi-finalist.
Bradley didn’t mind that the hordes of fans who follow McGregor on social media have seen him get tagged by ‘the Notorious’. In fact, he seemed quite proud of his ability to take that calibre of punch off the knockout artist.
Although, the battery level on his phone is nothing to be proud of. Get yourself to a charger, man!
Love it! At least I know I can take a punch!👀 @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/D3F6jmk00E
— Tiernan Bradley (@TBradleyBoxing) June 28, 2017
Bradley confirmed to BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘Good Morning Ulster’ that Conor Wallace was responsible for booking him this sparring gig. Wallace was McGregor’s main sparring partner for his welterweight do-over against Nate Diaz at UFC 202 (quotes via Irish-Boxing).
“Conor McGregor just rang him and said, ‘is there anyone out there, in Ireland, that is able to come down to Dublin and sort of has the same style as Mayweather?’ Conor had no hesitation to say my name, and his [McGregor’s] manager got in contact with me and I couldn’t turn it down.”
Modest as ever, Bradley admitted that he is no way on the same level as arguably the greatest defensive boxer ever, but he feels he has “qualities like Mayweather”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV5FUWNlpr-/?taken-by=tiernanbradley1
Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi also confirmed to MMA Micks that he will spar with McGregor once the camp moves stateside.
Malignaggi held the IBF junior welterweight title from 2007 to 2008, and the WBA welterweight from 2007 to 2008. He ended his 16-year career as a professional pugilist earlier this year after being knocked out by Sam Egginton in a WBC International welterweight title fight. He bowed out with a record of 36-8.
If I was gonna do an mma vs boxer match n try n get on that super card it'd be against some1 like @CubSwanson not u bro lol. I'm retired. https://t.co/ygfqPF4RhK
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) May 22, 2017
Meanwhile, at the Money Team, there has been some sparring partner-switching going on.
Trainer Ricky Funez revealed to Fight Hype that his nephew was brought into the camp after Mayweather ousted another sparring partner over an accidental foul in training.
“It looks like the other guy that was sparring him (Mayweather)… there was an accidental head butt, hitting him low. That’s a $200million fight so I don’t think he wants to get cut or anything.”
That’s about 200 million reasons to take no chances before August 26.
