By Lem Satterfield
The biggest story of the week is the promotional tug of war for WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. Several days ago, Golden Boy Promotions announced the multi-year promotional signing of Donaire, who claimed free agency from Top Rank. Soon after, Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, disclosed that his company still has a valid binding promotional contract over Donaire. The matter is clearly heading to a court of law for resolution.
During a recent interview with BoxingScene.com, Nonito's wife and business manager, Rachel Donaire, explained the reasons behind her husband's jump to Golden Boy. A few of the issues that bothered Nonito's wife, was her husband playing a secondary role to Top Rank's company superstar, Manny Pacquiao. And, she was bothered by her husband's inability to secure a position on any of Pacquiao's undercards.
"We figured that because Bob Arum kept marketing him as the next Manny Pacquiao, that they would market him with Manny, you know what I mean? But a simple thing like being on the same show on the undercard was not something that was done in the last three years. We didn't think that was that big of a thing to do," Rachel Donaire told BoxingScene.com.
"That would have helped with the fan followings if Nonito had been on the same HBO cards as Manny. But, I mean, everything happens for a reason. And I think that Nonito needs to tell people, and to make it on his own. Even back here in the Philippines, they refer to Manny all of the time. Now, Nonito is never going to be Manny, but Manny's also never going to be Nonito. That's just how it has to be. They grew up in different places and they can be respected as two different fighters."
Arum believes Rachel Donaire may have been overcome with jealousy over Pacquiao's status and success in the sport - and because of that she persuaded her husband into signing a contract with Golden Boy.
"It's really just sad that, you know, we did everything that we possibly could for Nonito Donaire. And, the jealousy that she particularly showed to the top fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao, who happens to be a Filipino like her husband, would have to be what motivated her into doing what she did. If that's the pattern that she followed, being motivated by jealousy of another person, I feel sorry for her and for Nonito Donaire," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
Arum refused to comment on whether or not he believes Donaire will return to his company, but he's confident the Filipino-American is still contractually tied to Top Rank.
"I don't want to speculate on anything. We're in the judicial process, and we're going to let it play out. All that I have to say is based on reading that article, the green monster has gotten ahold of her, which is jealousy. And once that happens, whether it's jealousy of Manny Pacquio or jealousy of something else, all that that does is to destroy people," Arum said.