As former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather and UFC superstar Conor McGregor prepare for their unprecedented and highly anticipated August 26 showdown, pundits and fans alike have been fascinated by how both fighters are preparing for the bout.

Both camps have been busy finalising their battle plans and no doubt will be eager to leave nothing to chance as they get ready.

McGregor who, in the fight will be restricted to using just his hands, has spent much of his time preparing by sparring former world boxing champions, including Paulie Malignaggi before he abruptly and angrily left the camp after images of their sparring sessions were released to the media.

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The images appeared to depict Malignaggi in a negative light with one in particular showing him lying on the canvas although insisted that the images did not tell the full story and was incensed by what he perceived to be underhand tactics.

Since then, he has revealed that a fellow fighter and Mayweather's last opponent, Andre Berto has also cancelled a sparring session with the Irishman as a result of the fallout between their fallout.

 

"I spoke to Andre Berto. Andre was supposed to go there and box on Saturday, and he changed his mind after seeing what happened with me," Malignaggi told Cagesiders.

He went on to say, "Everybody already knew what happened with Van Heerden, now he’s doing the same with me too. When word goes around that somebody is like that, even in regular life, you start to alienate (people)."

Choice words.

If reports are to be believed, Berto is now the third boxer that McGregor has crossed during his preparation for the Mayweather fight.

South African Chris van Heerden also found himself at the centre of controversy when parts of his sparring session with McGregor were also released to the media, again seemingly showing Van Heerden losing to the UFC star. 

An angered Van Heerden subsequently released via Twitter, other video, of the session showing the complete opposite.

This latest chapter in the run up to the bout adds yet another dimension to an already controversial showdown between Mayweather and McGregor.

The lead up to the historic showdown has seen it's own fair share of mind games and wars of words. However, what will ultimately matter is how both fighters will let their hands, not their mouths, do the talking on August 26.