Bob Arum Slugs Oscar De La Hoya in Fight over "The Next Manny Pacquiao," Donaire

Oscar De La Hoya’s company, Golden Boy Promotions, announced two weeks ago that it signed unified bantamweight titlist, “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, to an “exclusive, multi-year agreement.”

"Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible," De La Hoya said in a March 16 statement to the Associated Press. "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."

However, Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotional firm claimed they had an agreement with Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) and promised they would not lose the enormously talented pugilist without a fight.

"Top Rank has a valid contract and we will enforce our rights," Arum told ESPN.com.

Arum emerged victorious outside the ring over De La Hoya Tuesday when arbitrator Daniel Weinstein, a retired judge, upheld Top Rank’s existing contract with Donaire for the remainder of their deal.

"We are pleased with Judge Weinstein's carefully considered decision," Top Rank attorney Daniel Petrocelli said in a statement. "Top Rank hopes it can put the lawyers and legal fight behind it and return to doing what it does best—promoting the most talented boxers and the most entertaining boxing matches in the world today."

Donaire reportedly signed a three-year pact with Top Rank in June 2008 with a provision for a one-year extension that was exercised last month.

"I do not comment on pending legal action," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com in an email.

Donaire, who hasn’t been defeated since he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rosendo Sanchez in March 2001 in his second professional bout, is also a past IBF and IBO world flyweight champ, who is currently rated by Ring Magazine as the No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

“The Filipino Flash” is constantly compared to his fellow Filipino countryman, WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs).

Pacquiao, the first prizefighter to win 10 world titles in eight different weight divisions, is a three-time Fighter of the Year and one-time Fighter of the Decade.

“It’s a great honor to be compared to Manny Pacquiao,” said Donaire, 28. “I mean the guy has done what no one has ever done before. So for someone to throw a name at you like that, that’s a big compliment. It’s like if you’re starting out in basketball, and someone is calling you the next Michael Jordan. I’m like, ‘thank you.’”

Granted, Donaire is an elite prizefighter and his rapid fists and overall ring prowess will likely earn him much future success.

Plus, “The Filipino Flash” has an eloquence and class about him that will eventually transcend to the mainstream public.

Nevertheless, at this juncture, Donaire is strictly being linked to Pacquiao because they both hail from the Republic of the Philippines.

Despite the inane and premature comparisons to Pacquiao, “The Filipino Flash” is a tremendous pugilist who is not solely a flash in the pan.

Bob Arum and Top Rank landed a solid counterpunch on the chin of Oscar De La Hoya this week and it will be interesting to see how “The Golden Boy” absorbs the blow and presses forth.