Steve Forbes is a former IBF Super Featherweight Champion who hasn’t competed since a loss to Johan Perez in 2013.
The fighter was offered an opportunity to spar with UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor, but it was an opportunity the boxer declined.
“I got a call to spar with them too,” Forbes said to Bloody Elbow. “I said no. We didn’t even get to (talking about money). It’s just the way how it was handled with Paulie. Plus, I haven’t been sparring or training really like that.”
McGregor has been at the center of controversy lately in the boxing world after a photo and then a video was released showing him knocking down Paulie Malignaggi during a sparring session.
Forbes also feels that if he went to spar with the Irishman, then he may have been embarrassed publicly by McGregor and his team.
“Yeah, I know. They’d make me look bad because I’m not in condition. No way!” he said. “People were like ‘oh you would be able to handle that,’ but I haven’t been sparring.”
Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather takes place on Saturday, August 26 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
