By Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Golden Boy Promotions on Wednesday sent out a news release announcing it had just signed bantamweight world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire to a long-term promotional contract.
Considering Donaire is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, it was a joyous day for Oscar De La Hoya's company.
"Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible," De La Hoya said in a statement. "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Donaire was equally stoked.
"I'm honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team," said Donaire, 28, of San Leandro via the Philippines. "I'm going to fight my heart out every time in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
If only it were that simple.
It's not, because Bob Arum - De La Hoya's hated enemy and rival promoter - insists Donaire is still under contract to his Top Rank Inc. Consequently, Arum on Thursday lashed out. He said he will take legal action, and he partly blamed Donaire's wife, Rachel, for her husband wanting to find employment elsewhere.
According to Arum, he still has plenty of time left on his contract with Donaire because it extended when injuries Donaire sustained did not allow him to fight three times a year, as per the language of the contract.
"That is what the contract says, in case of injury or suspension, the contract is extended," Arum said of the contract Donaire signed in 2008.
Arum said when Donaire fractured his hand in a November 2008 fight against Moruti Mthalane in Las Vegas, he was put on 180-day suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"When a guy's hand is bad, how the hell do you book him in a fight?" Arum said.
Arum said Donaire had his hand X-rayed two months after it was fractured, "and it had apparently healed, but he didn't tell anyone. In any event, when he has a bad hand, that is what the contract calls for. When that takes effect, indisputably, then we're certainly in compliance."
Donaire had just that one fight in 2008. Eleven months earlier, he hurt his hand during an eighth-round stoppage of Luis Maldonado in December 2007. Donaire fought twice in 2009 and three times in 2010.
He started off 2011 with a booming second-round knockout of bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel.
That most recent win was looked upon as perhaps a career best for Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs). Before Arum knew it, Golden Boy had snatched him away.
"We knew they were sniffing around Nonito, but we were surprised they would act in the face of what they had to know was a valid contract," Arum said via telephone from Las Vegas. "But nothing they do really surprises me."
Donaire is managed by Cameron Dunkin, but Rachel Donaire takes an active role in her husband's career. Arum said she's the one stirring the pot.
"The problem is not with Nonito, the problem is with Rachel," Arum said. "She has (Manny) Pacquiao envy. `Why wasn't Nonito promoted like Pacquiao?' It was ludicrous kind of stuff. She was jealous."
Arum promotes Pacquiao.
During an interview last month prior to the fight with Montiel, both Nonito and Rachel Donaire expressed disappointment that Nonito had not been able to appear on one of his countryman Pacquiao's pay-per-view cards. They said Michael Koncz, who helps Pacquiao run MP Promotions, didn't want Donaire on any Pacquiao undercards because he refused to sign with the Philippines-based company. (Many foreign-born fighters have American and home-land based promoters).
Arum last month confirmed Koncz had asked him to keep Donaire off Pacquiao's cards.
Arum is planning a lawsuit against Donaire. He also said that he could see himself ending up in arbitration with Golden Boy. One thing's for sure, Arum said this definitely makes the relationship with Golden Boy even worse. And that's saying something.
"Absolutely," Arum said. "My feeling is, if we never do business again, it's too soon."
The Donaires did not return two phone calls left for them. Dunkin answered his phone Friday morning but couldn't say anything, as per instructions given by Donaire's Las Vegas- based attorney, John Bailey.
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, wouldn't say much, either. "We are happy to have Nonito and we have big plans for him," Schaefer said Friday afternoon. "As it relates to the legal issues, I'm not going to comment on that."
Source: dailynews.com
Saturday 19 March 2011
ARUM WARNS, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
After a bitter family feud that took some of the luster out of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s spectacular 2nd round knockout of Fernando “KO-Chulito” Montiel last February 19 when the classy Filipino won the WBC and WBO bantamweight belts, the pound-for-pound No. 4 now faces a bitter legal battle with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
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Arum, in a telephone conversation with the Inquirer after Golden Boy Promotions announced that Donaire had signed a multi-year deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional outfit warned, “Somebody is going to pay for this.”
The astute promoter said there were two steps he would take to protect what he insisted is a valid contract with Donaire,
The first would be to “file a legal complaint with arbiter (former judge Daniel Weinstein) against the actions of Golden Boy Promotions in signing up Donaire in the face of an existing contract with Top Rank. Judge Weinstein mediated the Top Rank – Golden Boy battle over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao some years ago when a tug-of-war developed after Pacquiao signed with both promotional outfits but eventually went to Arum.
Arum also said he would take legal action to protect what he described as “a completely valid contract” with Donaire.
He described Donaire’s action in signing up with Golden Boy Promotions as “absolutely stupid” and blamed Donaire’s wife Rachael for the mess claiming she was a bad influence. At the same time Arum posed the question “How desperate can Golden Boy get?”
Arum claimed that Donaire had “medical suspensions of six months, twice” which effectively pushed back the validity of his contract. However, Rachael Donaire said the fighter’s hand was not hurt but “ was only swollen” after his fights.
Boxingscene.com quoted De La Hoya who said, "Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible."
De La Hoya noted that "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was quoted by USA Today as saying “It’s a big signing for us. He’s on most people’ pound for pound lists and is ranked right there with (Floyd) Mayweather, (Manny) Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez. From an excitement point of view, I think he's right on top of that list now. He's a young, exciting fighter and we're really happy to have him with Golden Boy."
Donaire’s wife Rachael two days ago hinted that they would be signing up with Golden Boy for “a lot more money” than Arum had offered Donaire to face WBA champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno is a unification bout on May 28.
Arum had reportedly offered Donaire a purse of $500,000 but the Inquirer understands that Golden Boy had upped the amount to $750,000.
For his part Donaire said he was “honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team. I'm going to fight my heart out every time I'm in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
Donaire’s first big win was his sensational 5th round knockout of cocky Vic Darchinyan to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007. His next big wins were back-to-back demolitions of former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in four bloody rounds and Montiel, the WBC/WBO champion in two.
Source: philboxing.com
After a bitter family feud that took some of the luster out of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s spectacular 2nd round knockout of Fernando “KO-Chulito” Montiel last February 19 when the classy Filipino won the WBC and WBO bantamweight belts, the pound-for-pound No. 4 now faces a bitter legal battle with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Arum, in a telephone conversation with the Inquirer after Golden Boy Promotions announced that Donaire had signed a multi-year deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional outfit warned, “Somebody is going to pay for this.” The astute promoter said there were two steps he would take to protect what he insisted is a valid contract with Donaire,
The first would be to “file a legal complaint with arbiter (former judge Daniel Weinstein) against the actions of Golden Boy Promotions in signing up Donaire in the face of an existing contract with Top Rank. Judge Weinstein mediated the Top Rank – Golden Boy battle over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao some years ago when a tug-of-war developed after Pacquiao signed with both promotional outfits but eventually went to Arum.
Arum also said he would take legal action to protect what he described as “a completely valid contract” with Donaire.
He described Donaire’s action in signing up with Golden Boy Promotions as “absolutely stupid” and blamed Donaire’s wife Rachael for the mess claiming she was a bad influence. At the same time Arum posed the question “How desperate can Golden Boy get?”
Arum claimed that Donaire had “medical suspensions of six months, twice” which effectively pushed back the validity of his contract. However, Rachael Donaire said the fighter’s hand was not hurt but “ was only swollen” after his fights.
Boxingscene.com quoted De La Hoya who said, "Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible."
De La Hoya noted that "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was quoted by USA Today as saying “It’s a big signing for us. He’s on most people’ pound for pound lists and is ranked right there with (Floyd) Mayweather, (Manny) Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez. From an excitement point of view, I think he's right on top of that list now. He's a young, exciting fighter and we're really happy to have him with Golden Boy."
Donaire’s wife Rachael two days ago hinted that they would be signing up with Golden Boy for “a lot more money” than Arum had offered Donaire to face WBA champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno is a unification bout on May 28.
Arum had reportedly offered Donaire a purse of $500,000 but the Inquirer understands that Golden Boy had upped the amount to $750,000.
For his part Donaire said he was “honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team. I'm going to fight my heart out every time I'm in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
Donaire’s first big win was his sensational 5th round knockout of cocky Vic Darchinyan to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007. His next big wins were back-to-back demolitions of former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in four bloody rounds and Montiel, the WBC/WBO champion in two.
Source: philboxing.com
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