By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) is applying the pressure on Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KO’s). The New York Post is reporting this morning that Manny is putting Floyd on notice that if he wants the richest fight in boxing history to happen, he has about one year to do it.

Currently Pacquiao is a congressman in Sarangani Province in the Philippines. That position allows him time to continue to have a boxing career. Manny however, has made it clear that he wants to be taken seriously as a political figure in his homeland. He wants to run for an executive office which would require a total commitment. In essence “Pacman” would have to retire from the ring and devote all his time to his burgeoning political career.

“I want to be an executive in 2013, it’s hard to be an executive and do boxing,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying.

What that means of course is that if the dream fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is ever to happen, it has to happen next year. The fight has been talked about endlessly for the past couple of years, but for one reason or another, the details have not been able to be worked out to enable the two biggest superstars in boxing to get into the same ring together. There has also been conjecture from fans on both sides that one fighter or the other is ducking the fight.

Pacquiao said “I don’t really need that fight. If it happens good, because it’s what the fans want. But I’m happy with what I’ve done in boxing.”

Mayweather will fight WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) on September 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after a 16 month absence from the ring. It has been speculated by many boxing fans that Mayweather is using the fight with Ortiz, who is a southpaw, as preparation for Pacquiao who is also a southpaw.

Pacquiao will fight WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) also at the MGM Grand on November 17 in their Trilogy fight.

Pacquiao by his latest statements has effectively placed the ball back in Mayweather’s court regarding any possible fight between the two. What Manny is saying is that he does not need Floyd to secure his legacy.