MUHAMMAD ALI's daughter has filed legal papers in a bid to prevent a U.S. court dragging the boxing legend into a messy financial battle.

Laila Ali is currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with her husband's ex-wife - who has gone to court to demand former football star Curtis Conway increase her child support payments over the former couple's three kids.

Leoria Sanamu Conway wants the court to consider Laila Ali's income, and any possible inheritance she will receive from her famous father.

But Ali has filed papers in a bid to stop Sanamu Conway accessing her financial records, and those belonging to her dad - insisting the request for information in relation to her "inheritance or potential inheritance" is an invasion of privacy, according to TMZ.com.

The court papers, obtained by the website, claim the legal bid is "clearly designed to harass and burden Ms. Ali."