The war of words outside the ring continues between boxing rivals Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao, a devout Christian, told The Telegraph he was ready to fight Mayweather but the American is "avoiding" a fight with him.

The pair have never actually come face to face in the ring and Pacquiao says he can live with it if it never happens.

"I'll never be frustrated if the Floyd fight doesn't happen ... I'm happy and content with the legacy I have in boxing, even if I don't fight Floyd," he said.

The fight would be "good for the sport" though, he concedes - it is expected the fight would be one of the highest grossing of all time if it ever happens.

"It's obvious he is avoiding a fight with me. He always makes excuses. Just make the fight and stop talking. I've made it clear that my phone line is always open for him to call me," said Pacquiao.

He added: "I pity him because all he thinks and does reflects the worldly aspects of life. He seems to have forgotten his spiritual nourishment."

It's not the first time Pacquiao has made comments about Mayweather's spiritual condition.  When Mayweather made a jibe about "Miss Pac Man" on his Instagram, Pacqiao responded by saying he was praying for the American to "change his ways". 

"He should fear God," said Pacquiao. 

Pacquiao, who has become increasingly involved in politics and professional basketball in his native Philippines, has spoken openly about his plans to retire from boxing in the next few years.

In The Telegraph interview he was open to the idea of fighting English boxer Amir Khan.  This weekend, Pacquiao will be back in the ring defending his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title against Chris Algieri in Macau, China.