Golden Boy exec denies Slim's $65-M offer to Pacquiao

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV It turned out to be a case of an offer than wasn't made. In the light of the reported $65 million proposal tendered by billionaire Carlos Slim to Manny Pacquiao for the boxing superstar to fight rising prospect Saul Alvarez in Mexico, Golden Boy Promotions vehemently denied a mouth-watering figure was ever presented to them. Alvarez, 21, from Guadalajara, Mexico, is the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) light-middleweight champion and is being promoted by Golden Boy. "I have a nice relationship with the Slim people and I talked directly to Mr. Slim. It's not true," Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Schaefer said in an interview by The Ring, the so-called 'Bible of Boxing.' The Philippine Daily Inquirer broke out the news a day earlier, with Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson as the source of the supposed multi-million deal being dangled to the 32-year-old Pacquiao by Slim, acknowledged as the world’s richest man last year with a net worth of $53.5 billion. But shortly after the report spread out like wild fire, Singson clarified himself that no offer has been made, stressing Slim only expressed a great desire of having Pacquiao fight in Mexico against an opponent to be handpicked by the Filipino boxing icon. Although a close confidante of Pacquiao, Singson has no business negotiating fights in behalf of the world's top pound-for-pound fighter as the task falls under the responsibility of Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao under his Top Rank Promotions. Singson apparently acknowledged this, admitting in a separate interview by the same newspaper that "we will not negotiate without informing Arum." The controversial politician, however, added that Arum already called him up a day after the reports came out, and clarified the matter with the Top Rank big boss. As quoted in The Examiner, Arum appeared amenable to the Mexico bout, but would rather concentrate first on Pacquiao's November 12 title fight against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Well, they are talking about next year," Arum said. "Manny has the key third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez coming up on Nov. 12 and then we can discuss 2012." "I don't know when Manny will want to fight next year, whether we stick to May and November, because that’s up to Manny and his schedule, what he wants to do." - RCJ, JVP, GMA News