$3M bid for Mares-Donaire clash

Golden Boy Promotions has offered Nonito Donaire Jr.’s promoter Bob Arum $3 million for the right to stage the superfight pitting unbeaten Mexican champion Abner Mares against the Filipino boxing star.

The offer was made by GBP CEO Richard Schaefer to Top Rank, which promotes Donaire’s fights. Top Rank’s big boss Arum had earlier asked his rival outfit to name its price to earn the right to run the show itself.

Schaefer told Boxingscene.com that Arum was “lowballing” Mares’ manager Frank Espinoza in their negotiations for the fight, which could generate huge pay-per-view demands owing to the pulling power of two of the world’s best super bantamweights.

“I think both fighters—Abner Mares and Nonito Donaire—deserve to make the most money in this fight,” Schaefer said. “I’m willing to put up an offer, to Bob Arum, to provide the services of Donaire. I am willing to offer them $3 million.”

GBP boss Oscar De La Hoya, in a rejoinder on Twitter, said: “Let’s see what excuse Bob Arum will come up with now. I’m sure Nonito will agree that $3 million is a lot of moolah.”

Donaire reportedly earned $1 million from his last fight against Jorge Arce. Even if he splits the cash with Top Rank, the WBO champ could earn his biggest paycheck to date.

Arum was earlier quoted by the same website as saying, “Let him (Schaefer) come to me with a sum of money. What do they want? I’m happy to pay it. Don’t you think I know that’s a fight people want to see.”

Arum had earlier said that he must run the show because Donaire is the bigger fighter.