UFC says it will sue Manny Pacquiao if reports of boxing negotiations with star fighter Conor McGregor are true

Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao.

• UFC has threatened to sue former championship boxer Manny Pacquiao.
• The Filipino fighter reportedly contacted mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor to negotiate a boxing-rules bout behind the UFC's back.
• UFC president Dana White confirmed that McGregor's next fight would indeed be with UFC.

Prominent cage-fighting firm UFC has threatened to sue former five-weight world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao.

News broke last week that the Filipino fighter had reportedly contacted UFC fighter Conor McGregor's team to open negotiations for a boxing-rules contest.

UFC president Dana White told journalists on Sunday that, if true, Pacquiao and his representatives Top Rank promotions would all be subject to legal action.

"That would be weird because he's under contract with us," White said, according to ESPN. "If that's true, I will be suing Manny Pacquiao and whoever's representing him."

Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Conor McGregor (left) is under contract with UFC president Dana White (right).

McGregor has not fought since his sole venture inside a boxing ring - an unsuccessful tenth round loss to unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Since then, a number of rumours have emerged regarding McGregor's comeback opponent in a UFC cage.

McGregor's disgruntled ex sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi has lobbied for a boxing-rules fight but White all but confirmed a high-stakes UFC bout with interim title holder Tony Ferguson in October.

An official fight announcement from UFC or from McGregor is yet to be made.

However, White confirmed that McGregor's next fight would indeed be a UFC contest.