By Rick Reeno

On Wednesday, Golden Boy Promotions announced the multi-year promotional signing of WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. For the last few weeks, Donaire has claimed that his contract, which runs out in June, was invalid because Top Rank has not satisifed the terms of the deal. The sticking point being claimed by Donaire, is a contract term which required Top Rank to provide him with three fights per year.

According to a recent interview with Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, Donaire suffered injuries that prevented him from taking fights in the early part of his deal, and Top Rank recently exercised their option for a one year extension to push Donaire's promotional contract until at least June of 2012. Pursuant to the contract terms, Arum believes Donaire's injuries will automatically extend his deal even further, until 2013. 

Following Golden Boy's announcement, Arum spoke to BoxingScene.com, and it's pretty clear that another lawsuit is ready to erupt. Arum is very confident that Donaire is still under a valid contract with Top Rank.

"We have a valid, binding, legal contract in full force and effect, and we are going through our lawyers to pursue our legal remedies. The point is, that we have a valid contract, and nobody is going to push us around, and we are going to enforce our contract. And anybody that doesn't respect our contract we are going to go after," Arum told BoxingScene.com.