It's fair to say that former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi has not had the best time on Twitter lately.

After clips of his sparring sessions with Conor McGregor were released by UFC boss Dana White on Twitter, Malignaggi was criticised on the same platform for being less than honest after he claimed he had held his own against the Irishman during the sessions.

Soon after, Malignaggi came under fire from Twitter users for his perceived dishonesty, and his latest Twitter status has invited a backlash.

On Tuesday, Malignaggi took to Twitter to say: "For 100 million I think I'd fight a lion in a cage haha, wouldn't you?"

The status, which was essentially made in jest, was met with a myriad of responses on his Twitter timeline.

He was not only trolled mercilessly, but some skeptical Twitter users let him have it with both barrels.

One Tweeter was particularly scathing, saying: "I think this was the agenda from the start. But Paulie tried to play it off like he was just going in to spar and help Conor prepare." 

Another Tweeter did not hold back, and and told the American: "You never got close to earning 100 mil for 1 fight! That is why you are still hanging round this fight like a bad smell."

Choice words indeed.

But, why was Malignaggi talking about fighting in a cage in the first place?

Well, one Twitter user asked him whether he'd take on McGregor in a UFC fight for 100m.

Malignaggi who attended Tuesday's press conference in Las Vegas was keen to get his point across outside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The two squared up to each other and had to be seperated and they wasted no time in exchanging words.

Malignaggi even said to McGregor: "Did you bring your b**ls, Conor?" 

Ouch.

McGregor did not hold back, however, and fired back: "What you saying? It's over, get over it - you got your a** whooped."

Malignaggi held his ground and replied: "When we were sparring, remember what I said when you quit like a b***h on Saturday."

Malignaggi was then restrained by security personnel, but that did not prevent him from continuing the verbal tirade. He finally shouted at McGregor: "Make sure you bring your b**ls Saturday p***y."

It's fair to say that Malignaggi has become a much bigger part of the build up to the fight than expected and no doubt he will be rubbing his hands with glee if McGregor is stopped by Mayweather.