Fallen Donaire vows to ‘come back and do better’

Nonito Donaire has his eye checked after losing a junior featherweight title boxing match against Guillermo Rigondeaux at Radio City Music Hall in New York Sunday, April 14, 2013. Rigondeaux won a unanimous twelve round decision. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

MANILA, Philippines — Like the other fallen boxing champions before him, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. vowed Sunday a comeback.

Shortly after losing his WBO super bantamweight title to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux by unanimous decision on Sunday (Manila time), Donaire took his thoughts to Twitter.

“I just want to thank God for keeping me safe, my guardian angels for protecting me, my Team for standing behind me, and my fans for their support,” he said in a tweet (@FilipinoFlash).

“I tried to give my all and push the fight but we’ll be back. I’ll come back and do better,” he added. “For now, I congratulate Rigondeaux.”

Donaire managed to rock the former two-time Olympic gold medalist, sending him to the canvas in the 10th round — the only knockdown of the fight. But Rigondeaux was able to recover quickly.

The judges all scored in favor of Rigondeaux, 114-113, 115-112, 116-111, paving way for the WBO/WBA super bantamweight division unification.

The Filipino champion, who protected his swollen right eye in the 12th round, saw his 12-year, 30-fight winning streak halted.