By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) is confident that he will be squaring off with unbeaten Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s) sometime next year.

The Filipino icon, who is generally acknowledged to be the best Pound for Pound fighter in the world, was quoted in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer saying:

“I will fight Mayweather next year,” and also indicated that he would fight two or three more times before hanging up his boxing gloves.

Pacquiao is a congressman in Sarangani Province in the Philippines and wants to delve deeply into his burgeoning political career after he retires.

“Pacman” is confident that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum will be able to negotiate the Mega Bucks showdown with Mayweather. Pacquiao and Mayweather are the biggest superstars in boxing. Previous attempts to put the match together have failed over Mayweather’s insistence that any boxer he takes on in the ring must submit to Olympic style drug testing. No boxing commission presently requires fighters to take the tests that the Mayweather camp is insisting on.

Arum and Team Pacquiao have recently stated publicly that Manny Pacquiao would submit to the tests demanded by Floyd Mayweather Jr. It was thought at that time that all obstacles had been removed which would prevent the match from taking place.

Promoter Bob Arum recently revealed that Floyd Mayweather Sr. had added yet another condition. The new demand by Team Mayweather is that Manny must not train in the Phillippines.

Arum called the senior Mayweather’s demand bizarre and also stated that we (Team Pacquiao) are not an impediment to this fight happening. Arum had earlier told the Inquirer “We will do whatever it takes to make this fight happen. But you can’t chase this guy because if you do you’ll accomplish nothing.”

If the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight is ever to happen time is quickly running out. Floyd is now 34 years old and Manny at 32 has been in a lot of wars which tend to take their toll on a fighter.

Also waiting in the wings is the quickly improving and lightning fast Amir Khan. Mayweather has mentioned Khan as a possible future opponent. Of course, before we get too far ahead of ourselves Floyd has a date with Victor Ortiz on September 17 and Manny has to deal with his old nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12.