Fighting for a promotiomal company whose cash cow is named Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr. felt he wasn't getting paid properly.
Donaire, the 28 year WBO and WBC bantamweight champion who bids farewell to that weight class Saturday night in a huge HBO and ABS-CBN televised fight against rugged veteran Omar Narvaez at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theather, believed that impresario Bob Arum and his muscular Top Rank outfit weren't giving him enough attention or purse money.
So, Donaire rattled his contractual chains, signed a promotional deal with archrival Golden Boy and both a public spat and a legal fight ensued with TR. Feelings were so ruffled on the TR side that Arum made an acerbic remark about Donaire's limelight loving wife, Rachel, dressing...well, let's just saying not dressing like a nun.
Public perception is that the Doinaires "lost" their argument with Arum because the fighter who was born in General Santos City but now lives in Las Vegas had to remain with the company.
This perception is about as wrong as the anicient belief that the world is flat.
Donaire will get a record purse of around $700,000 for fighting prohhibitive underdog Narvaez from Argentina.
That's right, just about double the $350,000 the 26-1, 18 KOs Donaire, who has become even more explosive under the tutelage of trainer and ex-world champ Robert Garcia, earned from his dynamite, two round KO over Mexico's Fernando Montiel last February.
Being on the verge of the exclusive $1 million plus purse club now makes Donaire's saber rattling under his promotional deal look like it was worthwhile exercise.
Although he effusively praised Donaire's talents before, now butter wouldn't melt in Arum;s mouth when he talks about his second most popular born in the Philippines fighter.
It seems Arum is barking constantly about Donaire being on the cusp of blossoming into "a majro star, a real PPV TV attraction" and that's a key reason that this card is being held at the boxing historic Garden property despite both a Reno hotel-casino and the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., showing interest in hosting it.
Crossing the million dollar purse line would put Donaire in exclusive company just when he's at an age when he should be in the prime of his career.
If he can shine against the 35-0-2, 19 KOs Narvaez, a much shorter and older opponent, Donaire will ascend to the 122 and 126 pound divisions where he has a chance to also dominate.
Donaire and his wife might bear a few physic scars from their business battle with Arum and his lieges but they're in a partying mood here in the Big Apple.
I was informed Friday night that Mrs. D has planned a celebratory bash after hubby's New York ring debut that will cost $30,000, obiously not a bagels and tap water party.
But the Donaires can afford it.
They rattled their chains and, it says here, they came out winners.
Winners is that they plan to stay, in the ring and out.
I think Donaire will stop Narvaez in six rounds, possibly with one of his patented left hooks like the one he caved in Montiel's face with.
Then Team Donaire will party hearty.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
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