Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will rise from defeat and will continue to inspire millions of his countrymen, Malacañang said in a statement after his loss to Cuban boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux on Sunday.
Judges scoring the fight at the Radio Music Hall in New York City gave the match to Rigondeaux by unanimous decision. The match was meant to unify the super bantamweight titles of the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association.
Donaire knocked Rigondeaux down in Round 10 but the Cuban fighter gave him a cut on the right eye in the final round.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in Filipino that Donaire may have failed to unify the titles, but “the country’s support for our Filipino Flash will not waver.” She added the entire Philippines is confident that Donaire will get back on his feet after the loss.
Donaire, named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America in 2012, was born in Bohol province and moved to the US in 1993.
