FROM the looks of it, the $65-million fight purse offer to pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is more like a true or false quiz.
This, at least, is based on reactions coming out of Team Pacquiao ever since a report came out stating that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has a multi-million standing offer for Pacquiao to fight rising Mexican star Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez sometime in 2012 in Mexico.
?We were told about that offer for about a year already, but there were never serious talks that ever happened,? said Pacquiao?s lawyer Franklin Gacal.
Gacal said it was Ilocos Sur Governor Luis ?Chavit? Singson, who revealed to them the supposed offer which was reportedly coursed through the Mexican embassy here in the Philippines.
?Since it came from Governor Chavit himself, I guess there?s truth to it. But with the way things are going on right now, I have to say there?s a 50-50 chance for it to happen,? said Gacal.
Gacal added that Pacquiao would probably not think twice in accepting the offer even if it means fighting an undefeated prospect, who is physically bigger and younger.
?I don?t think Alvarez stands a chance against Manny so with that in mind, that would be a very tempting offer for us to turn down,? said Gacal.
A member of team Pacquiao, who refused to be identified expressed some doubts about the offer, even if it means Alvarez settling for a paltry offer just for the fight to happen.
?How can they recover that amount of money? Unless they are crazy enough to lose that much,? said the source who has been part of Pacquiao?s marketing group.
Meantime, Pacquiao?s promoter Bob Arum admitted to American boxing writer Mike Marley there may be some truth and probably a chance for the proposed fight to happen because of the people wanting to get involved in the talks.
?These are two serious people, so I take it seriously. I know Chavit as a great guy and Slim happens to be one of the richest men in the world,? said Arum.
Despite his fearsome record, Alvarez is still considered by Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach as a lightly regarded opponent for the current pound-for-pound king.
Roach even thinks his young ward Vanes Martirosyan is capable of knocking out the Mexican Alvarez.
?Everybody is talking about how great he is. I think Vanes would knock him out in one round. Vanes won the eliminator to face Alvarez. Let?s see how good Canelo is,? said Roach.
