Malignaggi now respects McGregor after watching him train

Malignaggi says McGregor has earned his respect after helping the Irishman prepare for his Las Vegas fight with Floyd Mayweather.

It makes me respect McGregor to see his work ethic that he’s put into the training camp. Seeing him work hard every day and see that he’s really determined to upset the odds. When you talk to Conor, at first I started thinking this guy doesn’t really think he’s going to win this, it’s just a 100 million dollar fight for him. Then when you really start to talk to him, you start to realise that this guy really believes it down deep inside his heart and he’s got every reason to, because every time he’s been doubted in his life he has been able to overcome those odds and win, no matter what it is. Come out of poverty, become a UFC champion, become a two-time two-weight UFC champion. Whatever it’s been, he’s done it. He has no reason to ever doubt himself, because he is yet to be proven wrong…He’s not going in there to play patty cake, he’s going in there with any other fighter’s mentality. Conor is the kind of guy who is going to come with a different style…It’s going to be up to Conor to throw those little curve balls here and there and throw things a bit out of line for Floyd, and see if he can get Floyd’s respect.