The rivalry between Bob Arum’s promotional company Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions will never end. The hate will continue to grow especially now that two-division world champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) dumped Top Rank and signed with Golden Boy.
“The Filipino Flash” has signed an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Golden Boy Promotions.
The 28-year-old native of the Philippines is coming off of a spectacular second round stoppage of Fernando Montiel last month which earned him the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles fighting under the banner of promotional rival Top Rank which earn Donaire his highest purse of $350,000.
According to an inside source, Donaire’s contract with Top Rank doesn’t end until 2012. Top Rank’s lawyers have contacted Donaire’s attorney Jerry Bailey. Golden Boy’s lawyer Judd Burstein is also getting involved and it’s not going to be a pretty picture and as before, Arum will accumulate those legal fees just to prove his point.
The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and that is why Golden Boy will do anything to get the right fighters.
Let the battle begin and don’t be surprised if Golden Boy’s Juan Manuel Marquez inks with Top Rank soon in a way of saying checkmate!
Boxing is a business and this is how it goes. I guess you milk it when you’re on top coming off a great win. Kind of like when pro football teams ask for a new stadium after a superbowl victory or a base ball team winning a world series.
This “Promoter Rivalry” has a touch of ‘WEE’ drama. I don’t believe that Arum will take this lying down. BUT… I also believe that THIS time Oscar took the necessary precautions to avoid what happened between these two “Arch Promotional Rivals” a few of years ago, when Oscar signed Pacauiao. Although I’m expecting a another ‘court battle’ I believe that Oscar has learned enough by now to win by a “Unanimous LEGAL decision” over the man that TAUGHT HIM ALL HE KNOWS!
@Tijuanaboxing I agree, a Low Blow for sure.
Money talks!, and I bet Golden Boy has people who can really talk ! lol.
This is a low blow to Top Rank, Donaire should have stayed with the promoter who was taking him to stardom, but we really don’t know all the ins and out, who knows exactly why he went the GB way, but it’s deja vu all over again with what happen with Pacquiao, GB gave him a briefcase full of money, and I’m pretty sure there was one with Donaire’s name on it this time also.
The bad thing here is the hate between the 2 promotions keeps on growing and instead they should be working together bringing us great fights!
We! the fans! are the ones loosing in this battle!
I am surprised he went to Golden Boy instead of sticking to Top Rank. Especially after they landed him the biggest fight and payday of his career.
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