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My guess is that a major factor in Donaire not being on Showtime is that he left the Shaw-riff for Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable and Senor Arum-ageddon is not the easiest promoter in the world for network executives to deal with. (Fans and the media aren’t the only people Arum enjoys telling to go f___ themselves.) Seriously, I think it’s the way Arum has chosen to “promote” Donaire that has kept the junior bantie off Showtime and other U.S. networks. The only attractive opponent Donaire has been in with since he left Shaw was Raul Martinez (a Mexican-American prospect/fringe contender who was 24-0 at the time and had been featured on a few Telefutura broadcasts). However, Arum wanted that flyweight title defense to take place in Manila. Why? I have no idea. I know Donaire was born in the Philippines, but come on, the kid’s an American! He grew up in San Leandro, Calif. He lives in San Francisco. He should be fighting in San Jose, Calif., and the Bay Area, and those fights should be on a U.S. network (if not Showtime or HBO, then basic cable, such as Fox Sports Net). He shouldn’t be fighting in the Philippines and he shouldn’t be hidden away on “Pinoy Power” pay-per-view shows that are geared to just one or two ethnic groups among hardcore fans. Donaire ain’t Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista! He speaks perfect English for Christ’s sake! He’s intelligent and charismatic. Arum needs to let a broad American fight fan audience see him, because the young man has the talent, style and flair to be a star, and not just in the Filipino community.
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