Paulie Malignaggi has said that boxing legend Manny Pacquiao would ‘obliterate’ UFC star Conor McGregor in one round should they ever meet in the ring, continuing the war of words between the pair.

Former welterweight champion Malignaggi told Boxing Scene: “I think Manny Pacquiao obliterates McGregor in one round. If he’s going to fight either of us in a boxing match, he’ll be exposed.”

McGregor has previously expressed an interest in revisiting the boxing ring following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather back in 2017, which remains his only boxing bout to date.

McGregor is reportedly eyeing up a super-fight against eight-division world champion Pacquiao, and rumours intensified after the Filipino fighter joined Paradigm Sports Management, the same company that manages the Irishman, earlier this year.

However, Malignaggi thinks McGregor is likely to lose like he did against Khabib in the Octagon and Mayweather in the ring, stating: “He quit during his submission losses in MMA.

As soon as it gets hard for him he looks for the first way out. He basically quit against Mayweather and stopped throwing punches… he was looking for a way out of that fight.

McGregor’s feud with Malignaggi began after the Irish fighter posted footage of him knocking the American down during a sparring session, while training for the fight against Mayweather. Following this, the pair have repeatedly engaged in a war of words in both interviews and over Twitter.

Malignaggi has said that he is eyeing a bout against McGregor if the fight against Pacquiao is off the cards. McGregor last fought at UFC 246 against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, ultimately winning via TKO in the first round.

Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone

It is unclear who the ‘Notorious’ will fight next, with rumours circulating about a rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov or a trilogy fight against rival Nate Diaz.

UFC president Dana White seems to favour a fight against Khabib once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

If those fights don’t happen, however, a grudge match against his rival Malignaggi seems like it will always be on the cards.