Donaire ends feud with Top Rank

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. will stick it out with Top Rank for the next four years.

Donaire, who has a love and hate relationship with Top Rank, has inked a new four-year pact with boxing’s top promotional firm.

The WBC and WBO bantamweight king will turn 29 in November, meaning by the time his contract with Top Rank expires he’d be 33.

“Nonito signed what’s basically a four-year deal, so he’s going to be around with Top Rank for a while,” said the boxer’s manager, Cameron Dunkin.

“It’s a good deal, I think. We haven’t got a date yet for his next fight, but we’re hoping to have a date today or tomorrow,” Dunkin told Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com.

Donaire has won world titles as a flyweight and super-flyweight, and took the bantamweight crown with a sensational knockout of Fernando Montiel last February.

But even before he can start talking about his next fight, Donaire figured in a controversy when he decided to bolt Top Rank despite a live contract.

He thought he’d be better off with Golden Boy Promotions.

But Donaire and Top Rank found a way to settle things, and gladly announced yesterday that all’s well between them.

For Donaire and Top Rank, it’s time to move forward.

“I am very happy and pleased to announce a recent reconciliation between Top Rank, and myself, and I am also extremely excited to announce that I will be back in the ring this coming October,” said Donaire.

“There were some details that required attention, and I feel confident now that my professional goals are being understood and respected by Top Rank. And we have likewise come to a mutual understanding and agreement as far as our common objectives in boxing and how we can work better together as a team.

“I was able to sit down and figure out the fight map, which both Top Rank and I could agree with. Having a shared goal now, and working together, I’m certain will only make for better fights, and better boxing, now and in the future,” he said.

Abac Cordero, Philippine Star