Arum said in an interview during his recent Manila visit that the date – May 28 – has been scratched. In the internet, there is no schedule for a Donaire fight that day.

“It’s like the May 28 schedule never happened,” said Arum. “What I know is that Top Rank has a valid contract with Donaire until June 2012. If Donaire wants out of the contract, I’ve got the best two lawyers in the business to take care of the case, Dan Petrocelli and Dave Marroso. I know Donaire’s lawyer John Bailey and I also know his manager Cameron Dunkin. They’re good guys. I don’t know where Donaire is coming from. I think he’s just a puppet.”

Arum wouldn’t comment on reports that Donaire is allegedly opting out of his Top Rank contract because of breach of terms and is signing up with Golden Boy Promotions.

Asked about the claim that Top Rank failed to arrange at least three fights a year for Donaire as stipulated in their contract, Arum said two suspensions due to injury prevented compliance. There was also a claim that Top Rank reneged on its commitment to pay Donaire at least a $250,000 purse for each fight.

“Our contract stipulated at least $250,000 for a world title fight,” said Arum. “And for other fights, at least $25,000. But he never got less than $150,000 for a non-world title fight.” Arum insinuated that Top Rank’s treatment was beyond the call of duty and more than fair.

A source in Donaire’s camp said Golden Boy president Richard Schaefer is now involved in negotiating a May 28 fight for the Filipino Flash. Donaire left Manila quietly last Saturday and is reportedly in Las Vegas to confer with his lawyers and Dunkin. He was advised by his lawyers to decline comment on the supposed attempt to break out of his Top Rank contract. A text to Donaire requesting a comment on the possible cancellation of the May 28 fight date was not replied to.

The source mentioned that Golden Boy is purportedly offering “super” WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno of Panama a $1.2 Million, four-fight deal to start with a unification showdown with Donaire. Moreno has withdrawn from a title defense against challenger Lorenzo Parra to make himself available for Donaire.

Earlier, Donaire said it was HBO that set May 28 for his next fight, not Top Rank.

Petrocelli and Marrosa are also Manny Pacquiao’s lawyers. They recently got a Nevada court ruling to move forward with Pacquiao’s defamatory case against Floyd Mayweather and Golden Boy which tried to dismiss it. Petrocelli and Marrosa are with the O’Melveny and Myers law firm of Los Angeles. Petrocelli is known for his success in the O. J. Simpson and Enron cases.

Arum said the jury is still out on Donaire. “He’s outsizing bantamweights but I’d like to find out how he does when he moves up and takes on guys like (Yuriorkis) Gamboa and (Juan Manuel) Lopez,” said Arum. “When he fought (Fernando) Montiel, there were three times more Mexicans than Filipinos in the audience. I don’t think he connects with the Filipino community. He’s not a pay-per-view draw. We thought of staging a Donaire fight in the Bay Area where he’s from but we were told he doesn’t sell tickets. So we planned to move his next fight to Atlantic City because Mike Jones, who’s popular in Philadelphia, would be in the undercard.”

Both Gamboa and Lopez are unbeaten featherweights who hold versions of the world 126-pound title. They stand 5-5 1/2 while Donaire is 5-6.

A source in Donaire’s camp said Arum was “bitter” about the looming divorce. There was speculation that Golden Boy had offered Donaire a hefty signing bonus to switch. It was rumored that Top Rank would pay Donaire a $500,000 purse for his next fight.

A hearing has reportedly been set in Las Vegas this week for retired judge Daniel Weinstein to arbitrate the conflict between Donaire and Top Rank.

Donaire and his wife Rachel could not attend the Elorde Awards Night at the Sofitel Hotel last Friday as they were in the airport trying to take a flight out to the US. They were also at the airport the previous night hoping to board. But there were no seats available on both days as they were on a wait-list. They finally flew out last Saturday after buying business class tickets, said a source.

According to Ring Magazine editor Nigel Collins, Moreno “has already voiced his willingness to fight Donaire and indefinitely postponed his defense against Lorenzo Parra in order to be available.” Collins said Donaire’s wife recently phoned the Ring Magazine to express the champion’s interest to gain recognition as its bantamweight king. “I explained that as the new No. 1 contender at 118 pounds, Nonito had to be involved in any fight for the vacant title and that he would have to fight the No. 2 contender, whoever that happened to be when the fight took place,” wrote Collins in his “Ringside” column. The No. 2 contender is now Moreno.

Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star