MANILA, Philippines ? Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will not hand Filipino rising star Nonito Donaire over to a rival promoter on a silver platter.
Arum told the Bulletin Friday that Top Rank is ?ready to go to court? over promotional rights over Donaire, whose contract is said to expire this June.
?We hope to get it resolved,? Arum said from Las Vegas.
Arum said he will meet with Donaire?s manager, Cameron Dunkin, anytime soon to iron out the kinks in Donaire?s contract extension with Top Rank.
Reports from the US say that Donaire is looking at the possibility of hooking up with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) of Oscar De La Hoya, which is Top Rank?s main competitor in the business.
To facilitate his release from Arum, Donaire recently signed up Jerry Bailey, the former head of the Nevada boxing commission, to represent him in dealing with his contract with Top Rank.
Going to GBP only means that Donaire will get a substantial signing bonus.
But Arum warns everyone involved that he won?t allow Donaire to be set free without giving up a fight.
?We have very good lawyers who will handle this,? said Arum, who is eyeing a May 28 fight for Donaire in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Calls made to Donaire went unanswered.
Donaire became a hot property following his smashing second-round knockout of Fernando Montiel of Mexico last month.
