source: examiner.com
After the news was announced that Bantamweight king Nonito Donaire had left Top Rank for promotional rivals Golden Boy, fan and media opinions on the matter were mixed to say the least.
Many understood that Donaire was only doing what he felt was best for his career. Equally though many also decried what they called his lack of loyalty for Top Rank, with some fans even going so far as to claim that joining Golden Boy is somehow an insult to fellow Filipino star Manny Pacquiao.
Addressing the Pacquiao issue firstly, and clearly Donaire has never shown anything but respect for the pound for pound king, and let's not forget that Pacquiao once signed with Golden Boy himself.
So leaving Top Rank in itself, (or attempting to if Bob Arum and his legal team have anything to do with it), isn't something that Donaire really deserves to be criticized for.
As for the idea of being loyal to a given promoter, like every fighter Donaire's loyalties lie where the most lucrative contract can be found and where he is going to be given the biggest promotional push to become more popular.
At the age of 28 Donaire is now in his prime, but realistically outside of his most recent win over Fernando Montiel hasn't been taking on the best competition available or that his undoubted talent warrants since his breakout win over Vic Darchinyan all the way back in 2007.
Part of that is down to the fact that not many fighters were keen to take him on, or rather not many promoters were happy to let their fighters take him on.
Donaire's camp however are of the opinion that the blame lies chiefly with Top Rank, and that he has been kept on the shelf while countryman Manny Pacquiao has been given all the attention.
Top Rank's thinking was perhaps along the lines of preparing Donaire to step into Pacquiao's shoes when the eight division champion retires in a couple of year's time. Giving Donaire manageable opponents but avoiding too many bouts that could make him too popular before they are ready to make him the main star on their roster.
With his defeat of Fernando Montiel earlier this year though it appeared that Top Rank were finally giving Donaire the push his career has been in need of all these years.
In Donaire's opinion, too little too late.
Golden Boy, searching for a major star to carry their company forward with the unpredictable nature of current major draw Floyd Mayweather, could be just what Donaire needs.
In some respects then this outcome was to be expected, and it was no secret that both Nonito and his outspoken wife Rachel were unhappy with his treatment under Top Rank.
Donaire as so far kept quiet about the move however, commenting to fans earlier today:
I know many of you have been questioning the recent news. I'm in meetings right now but I will make time later to release a video on my thoughts on the changes. Thank you all for the continued support!
The only issue remaining for Donaire is whether he really is as free to leave Top Rank as he claims to be.
Predictably, Top Rank aren't keen on Donaire leaving them for their main rival and have begun legal proceedings with the aim of seeing their contract with Donaire, which they claim is valid until 2013, fulfilled.
Donaire and presumably Golden Boy consider the contract to have been fulfilled already, and are no doubt preparing to make their own cases.
As to which promoter will win out in the end, only time will tell, but when it comes to Filipino stars with disputed contracts, Top Rank have the track record.
Edward Freeman, Pittsburgh: "People forget that Pacquiao tried to leave Top Rank as well, they can't be all that great"
Hermes Brown, Philly: "Donaire should have stayed at Top Rank, he's just chasing the money"
After the news was announced that Bantamweight king Nonito Donaire had left Top Rank for promotional rivals Golden Boy, fan and media opinions on the matter were mixed to say the least.
Many understood that Donaire was only doing what he felt was best for his career. Equally though many also decried what they called his lack of loyalty for Top Rank, with some fans even going so far as to claim that joining Golden Boy is somehow an insult to fellow Filipino star Manny Pacquiao.
Addressing the Pacquiao issue firstly, and clearly Donaire has never shown anything but respect for the pound for pound king, and let's not forget that Pacquiao once signed with Golden Boy himself.
So leaving Top Rank in itself, (or attempting to if Bob Arum and his legal team have anything to do with it), isn't something that Donaire really deserves to be criticized for.
As for the idea of being loyal to a given promoter, like every fighter Donaire's loyalties lie where the most lucrative contract can be found and where he is going to be given the biggest promotional push to become more popular.
At the age of 28 Donaire is now in his prime, but realistically outside of his most recent win over Fernando Montiel hasn't been taking on the best competition available or that his undoubted talent warrants since his breakout win over Vic Darchinyan all the way back in 2007.
Part of that is down to the fact that not many fighters were keen to take him on, or rather not many promoters were happy to let their fighters take him on.
Donaire's camp however are of the opinion that the blame lies chiefly with Top Rank, and that he has been kept on the shelf while countryman Manny Pacquiao has been given all the attention.
Top Rank's thinking was perhaps along the lines of preparing Donaire to step into Pacquiao's shoes when the eight division champion retires in a couple of year's time. Giving Donaire manageable opponents but avoiding too many bouts that could make him too popular before they are ready to make him the main star on their roster.
With his defeat of Fernando Montiel earlier this year though it appeared that Top Rank were finally giving Donaire the push his career has been in need of all these years.
In Donaire's opinion, too little too late.
Golden Boy, searching for a major star to carry their company forward with the unpredictable nature of current major draw Floyd Mayweather, could be just what Donaire needs.
In some respects then this outcome was to be expected, and it was no secret that both Nonito and his outspoken wife Rachel were unhappy with his treatment under Top Rank.
Donaire as so far kept quiet about the move however, commenting to fans earlier today:
I know many of you have been questioning the recent news. I'm in meetings right now but I will make time later to release a video on my thoughts on the changes. Thank you all for the continued support!
The only issue remaining for Donaire is whether he really is as free to leave Top Rank as he claims to be.
Predictably, Top Rank aren't keen on Donaire leaving them for their main rival and have begun legal proceedings with the aim of seeing their contract with Donaire, which they claim is valid until 2013, fulfilled.
Donaire and presumably Golden Boy consider the contract to have been fulfilled already, and are no doubt preparing to make their own cases.
As to which promoter will win out in the end, only time will tell, but when it comes to Filipino stars with disputed contracts, Top Rank have the track record.
Edward Freeman, Pittsburgh: "People forget that Pacquiao tried to leave Top Rank as well, they can't be all that great"
Hermes Brown, Philly: "Donaire should have stayed at Top Rank, he's just chasing the money"