Success has many fathers.
Nonito Donaire?s latest climb to boxing superstardom is no exception. After he knocked the senses out of Vic Darchinyan in 2007, many thought Donaire?s door would open up. Instead, it kept him from landing the big fights ? out of fear of him. His then manager Gary Shaw probably saw Donaire as an ?ingrate? who slew the golden geese in Darchinyan, whom he also promoted.
Donaire never landed the big fights he wanted after that Darchinyan conquest. Instead he was fed also-rans ? the likes of Luis Maldonado, Moruti Mthalane and Raul Martinez as challengers while waiting for a rematch with Darchinyan that never happened.
He had a falling out with Shaw and sought refuge in Top Rank?s Bob Arum who promoted his last two fights, including his knockout win over Fernando Montiel to annex the bantamweight crown.
It was another spectacular victory and it propelled him high into the pound for pound rankings.
With that, many see another Manny Pacquiao in the making in Donaire with his far better technical skills and equally explosive power. At 28 years old, his potential is limitless while others say he has a realistic shot at making a run for world titles up to the 135-pound division.
But like Pacquiao before, who like him grew up in General Santos, Donaire is now hounded by controversies just as his star is rising. He had this acrimonious spat with his family. His managerial dispute with Shaw and now a possible drawn out legal battle between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotion with whom he reportedly signed a multi-year, multi-fight contract after dumping Top Rank.
It is foolhardy to speculate what Donaire saw in Golden Boy if reports are true that he is dumping Top Rank.
It must be for better career and business considerations.
But I guess for as long as Top Rank has Pacquiao as its biggest cash cow, all the rest will have to wait for their time and troop the beeline. Even in sports, there is a pecking order, mind you.
Golden Boy, on the other hand, is like a sinking ship with all its marquee fighters jumping like rats. Look at who had abandoned Oscar de la Hoya as co-owner of the sports outfit ? Marco Antonio Barrera and Shane Mosley, no less. One of its marquee fighters, the ageing but still dangerous Juan Manuel Marquez is all but gone from and done with Golden Boy Promotion.
Donaire could be the passing ship that will rescue the troubled Golden Boy vessel and the one that got away from Top Rank.
Wherever his recent promotional future holds for him, Donaire is now realizing that the fun has just begun.
