Olympic-bound Eumir Felix Marcial was not very familiar before with boxing. Instead, he was very interested in playing basketball when he was younger, not knowing boxing will change his life for good as an athlete.
“Mahilig talaga ako sa basketball at hindi ako mahilig manood ng boxing, amateur or professional. Mas pinanonood ko pa 'yung basketball, so wala talaga akong alam sa boxing masyado,” explained the 5’8" Marcial, who only knows a few names in the boxing community then, like Senator Manny Pacquiao.
With his size, the Zamboanga City boxer is so unique in his weight class as there are only a few boxers who fight in the men’s middleweight division here.
Unique in a sense that he has carved a name for himself internationally.
Marcial, 24, has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from July 24 to August 8 next year after winning the men’s gold medal in the Asia-Oceania boxing Olympic Qualifying tournament in Amman, Jordan.
He is also an absolute monster in the Southeast Asian region, winning three straight gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Marcial will be flying to the United States within the month to jumpstart his Olympic gold-medal quest as a pro under the Premier Boxing Champions of Al Haymon.
MP Promotions' President Sean Gibbons said they are hoping Marcial can train under Pacquiao’s long time coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym once he gets to the United States.
“Sa akin naman walang problem (to train under Roach). It is really an honor at saka kung ano ‘yung makakabuti sa akin, take lang ng take kung ano makakatulong sa akin,” said Marcial, who is expected to debut professionally in October.
“Mas mahahasa 'yung speed, power and fighting style ko doon,” said Marcial.
Gibbons is preparing three short rounders for Marcial starting October.
