Donaire to reunite with Arum

MANILA, Philippines — If everything falls into place, Nonito Donaire will reunite with Top Rank and make his much-awaited return before the year ends.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told the Bulletin that Top Rank has been in negotiations with Donaire’s camp, headed by his manager Cameron

Dunkin, and that he hopes that something positive is going to come out of the talks.

Arum said he will immediately arrange a fight for Donaire at the soonest possible time once a new deal is reached between the Las Vegas-based company and the reigning world bantamweight king.

Top Rank and Donaire got immersed

in a bitter dispute after the boxer made an announcement in March that he had signed up with the Oscar De la Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) since his contract with Top Rank is no longer valid.

Weeks before Donaire said he is leaving Top Rank, he had fought under Top Rank that saw him score a sensational second-round knockout of Fernando Montiel in Las Vegas.

Arum then sought the assistance of a mediator who eventually ruled that Donaire has a live contract with Top Rank and has no other choice but to honor it.

Donaire, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is among the world’s top fighters and ranks high in almost everyone’s list of top pound-for-pound fighters.

Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin