WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire is now a member of the Golden Boy stable.
The surprise move was announced earlier today via Golden Boy’s Twitter account and a press release to media outlets. Donaire is less than a month removed from winning the WBC title with a 2nd round TKO over Fernando Montiel. According to Golden Boy, the Donaire signing is an “exclusive, multi-year agreement.”
“Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we’re going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible,” explained Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years.”
Top Rank elected to keep Donaire out of Showtime’s four-man, ongoing bantamweight tournament to make the Montiel fight. Before Donaire’s departure, Top Rank was attempting another unification matchup by pitting him against WBA bantamweight titlist Anselmo Moreno.
Donaire has not detailed his reasons for the move, but did promise he will build on the Montiel performance by continuing to face elite competition.
“I’m honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team,” Donaire stated. “I’m going to fight my heart out every time I’m in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see.”
Golden Boy is Nonito Donaire’s third promotional company since his career-making knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007. Top Rank released a terse statement to ESPN implying that Donaire’s signing will be challenged in court.
“Top Rank has a valid contract and we will enforce our rights,” the statement read.
At press time, Golden Boy is moving forward with HBO to secure a May date for Donaire’s next fight. The opponent is currently undetermined.
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I did not see this one coming. You have to wonder how much HBO factored into this. We all know they have a strong relationship with Golden Boy, and I’m sure they’re still not happy with Arum over taking Manny Pacquiao to Showtime. Why not help snub Arum and get one of his hottest fighters continued network exposure? It’ll be interesting to hear the particulars behind this in the coming days.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 