KEY POINTS
- Team McGregor's Willo Hayden will turn pro in boxing
- Hayden has had a past beef with Khabib Nurmagomedov
- The Irishman has proposed a sparring session with Nurmagomedov
A Team McGregor boxer is ready to strut his wares in the pros.
Irish boxing phenom Willo Hayden is taking a huge leap in his promising boxing career.
From being one of Conor McGregor’s sparring partners, Hayden is now a professional boxer, his manager and promoter Frank Warren announced last week.
“The 19-year-old sparring partner of [McGregor] isn’t waiting around and is ready to make his mark on the pro-game,” Warren tweeted.
Ahead of his pro boxing debut, Hayden is already a highly-regarded fighter in his home country.
At the mere age of 19, Hayden is an 11-time national champion of Ireland and European Schoolboys gold medalist.
Atop the said accolades, Hayden is also said to have fought in over 300 amateur bouts and has been undefeated in 45 championship fights in Ireland.
Earlier this year, Hayden generated buzz in the UFC after making a fiery response to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s dig at McGregor ahead of UFC 257.
It can be recalled that Nurmagomedov suggested that McGregor’s loss to Dustin Poirier was because of his training camp’s lack of experience.
“This is what happened, when you change your team, leave the sparring partners who made you a champion and sparring with little kids, far away from reality,” the former UFC lightweight champion tweeted.
Hayden, who recently revealed that he is the youngest member of Team McGregor, fired back at Nurmagomedov and called the then-UFC champ “chicken.”
“How about you back up your mouth and organize a time and a location for me to fight you,” wrote on Instagram. “I'm only a ‘little kid’ so this should be no problem for you? I can guarantee you that I will make you quit like the chicken you are.”
“From your own words, ‘Die like a samurai, don't chicken out please,’” he continued. “Now all you have to do is put your own words into action.”
Both men have yet to meet face-to-face, but in a recent interview with iFL TV, Hayden was once again quizzed to address the issue.
According to the Irishman, what Nurmagomedov said about Team McGregor was personal and he is “100 percent ready” to prove “The Eagle” wrong in a sparring session any given time.
“I took that personally,” Hayden stated. “I’m ready whenever if he wants to give me a show and organize me to go and spar him, I’m 100 percent ready!"
Khabib Nurmagomedov will put his lightweight title and unbeaten record on the line against Conor McGregor. In this picture, Nurmagomedov celebrates his win over Al Iaquinta (not shown) to capture the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 223 at Barclays Center in New York City on April 7, 2018. Photo: Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
