The first quarter is just about to end and a number of interesting things have already taken place for boxing. While local boxing has been fairly busy, the biggest news would have to be all about Nonito Donaire Jr.
He has done a great job of catching our attention not once, but twice. He created a lot of noise when his ?killer? left hook took out Fernando Montiel and with him went the WBC and WBO world title belts of the bantamweight division. Along with his flyweight and interim super flyweight titles, this would be his third world championship in a third weight division, unless the interim tag isn?t considered a legitimate world championship. And so we?re all counting now. From 112 pound to 115 and 118. Coming soon will surely be 122, 126, and 130. Did I hear 135? 140? Take a pause here and let?s connect it with the other big news out of Team Donaire.
He has now signed up with Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar de la Hoya after not being happy with what he was getting at Top Rank and Bob Arum. While jumping over the ?bakod? to an archrival is already a tough blow to take, he added insult to injury by announcing it while his contract with Top Rank is still live and very much active. He?s got balls now, doesn?t he? But that?s boxing and the quirks of the free agency system and market. Donaire feels he no longer has any obligations to Top Rank under his current contract and is free to join any promotions outfit that will give him his wishes. On the other hand, Top Rank will insist that Donaire is still very much under contract and can?t fight outside of Top Rank for another year, according to Bob Arum.
By going up against Arum and Top Rank, Donaire is literally going up against the gods of boxing, but I?m sure he and his GBP lawyers will be more than ready to face up to the legal battle up ahead. And this is what worries me. There?s no doubt that Donaire is one of boxing?s top rising stars who?s on the threshold of making it to the next level of the biggest stars of boxing, Pacquiao included. I just hope that the legal battles won?t ruin his path to the top. Going to litigation and reviewing who should be his rightful promoter is going to be a detour on his career. I don?t think we?re going to see Donaire fighting in May or June as previously announced if the legal battle gets ugly. Top Rank will do everything to stop a Donaire fight under GBP, and might even opt to freeze Donaire for a year just to teach him a lesson in ?obedience.? On a whole, it doesn?t look good at all.
The other side of the coin that?s slowly but surely coming out of bleacher talk from fans and enthusiasts is the real motive for joining GBP. Why transfer when Top Rank seemed to have the upper hand in terms of ?owning? boxing?s top stars? Money really talks and the most logical guess for why Donaire transferred was for more dollars. True, but I don?t think this is the whole truth about it. If it were just a case of money, I?m sure Top Rank could?ve matched whatever offer was made to Donaire by GBP. This has got to be more than just money.
As we talk about Donaire?s quest to win more world titles in different weight divisions, doesn?t this sound familiar? And as May 7 fast approaches, is it any coincidence that another Pinoy owns the keys to Bob Arum?s pocket? It?s a simple case of reality here. Manny Pacquiao is Top Rank?s top draw and everyone else is second fiddle. This includes other Top Rank stars likes Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez, Antonio Margarito and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Unfortunately for Donaire, he wasn?t at this level before the Montiel fight, and might not yet be beside these names just yet. The big question that was still hanging was if Donaire could fill up seats and bring on the PPV buys worldwide, the two keys to raking in the money. By beating Montiel, he has taken that important step to join the best of the best. Although he?s now ranked #4 on Ring Magazine?s Pound for Pound best, it doesn?t automatically mean he?s also the #4 in terms of ticket sales and PPV buys (which he isn?t for now). Donaire simply finds himself playing second fiddle to the Pacman out of Pinoy Boxing, but it looks like he?s in a hurry to close this gap. And he feels he can best do this under the GBP banner. But by announcing his new tie-up while his active contract hasn?t expired, he got himself into more trouble outside the ring. These are the worst for athletes.
In the end, we want only the best for Donaire. He needs to be patient in lining up behind Pacquiao as it?s obvious that he can?t get to Pacquiao?s level in the short term. If he keeps his feet on the ground and remains humble and focused, he?ll get there. But before anything else, the lawyers will take their cue in this quest.
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Time-out: Let?s all join hands and pray for Japan and all those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. >> You can reach me at [email protected].
