Donaire's May 28 fight dead – Arum

source: manila bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said plans to stage a May 28 fight starring Nonito Donaire is dead.

"That date is now officially dead," Arum said on Friday from his homebase in Las Vegas.

Arum had given Donaire until this week to make contact so they could set in motion plans to have him fight on that said date in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Last month, retired judge Daniel Weinstein arbitrated the tug-of-war involving Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) and ruled that fast-rising Filipino-American puncher rightfully belongs to Arum.

Even though there is already a ruling, Donaire hasn’t communicated with Top Rank, leaving the 79-year-old Arum at a loss over what to do next.

"Hopefully they’ll come to their senses and finish the contract with us," said Arum. "I will promote him for the rest of his contract really hard, really well. When his contract is over (with Top Rank), he is free to go anyplace he wants."

Donaire had signed with GBP on March 16 and immediately expressed his willingness to fight under the Oscar De La Hoya-owned outfit.

But Arum was quick to point out that Top Rank has a live and valid contract with Donaire, whose popularity rose so rapidly following his smashing second-round knockout of Mexican mauler Fernando Montiel last February.

"He has to come back. He has a lot of big fights coming under Top Rank," said Arum, whose next move is to meet up with Cameron Dunkin, Donaire’s manager.

"The longer this thing plays out, the further away his next fight will be," added Arum.

Top Rank lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said Donaire has no choice but fulfil his obligations.

"The ruling prevents Golden Boy from promoting Donaire. Since Donaire remains under exclusive contract with Top Rank, he can fight for Top Rank, but no one else. He filed a lawsuit in the state court of Nevada, but to date, has taken no action in the case," Petrocelli told the Bulletin.

source: manila bulletin