Eumir vows to fight on after loss of eldest brother
Tragedy struck the family of national boxing team mainstay Eumir Felix Marcial just days into his Olympic preparations in Los Angeles.
Eliver Marcial, the eldest of the Marcial siblings, died after collapsing yesterday morning of Saturday. He was 39.
Eliver, who got stranded in Eumir’s residence in Cavite since the country implemented the Luzon-wide lockdown in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was set to take a flight Saturday morning and return to their hometown in Zamboanga to be with his wife and six kids.
“Masaya pa siya noong Friday ng gabi tapos excited na yung parents ko lalo na yung asawa niya pati mga anak niya. Masakit talaga sa akin kasi close kami magkakapatid,” said a sobbing Marcial.
MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons immediately offered to arrange a flight back to the Philippines for Marcial.
But the Filipino Olympian decided to remain in the US and dedicate all his efforts to his brother as he has now started his training under the tutelage of famed trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.
“Ang parents ko, mga kapatid, lahat kami sa pamilya, bata pa lang ako talagang walang pinag-usapan kami kungdi makuha yung Olympic gold. Kausap pa ni kuya si Princess (Eumir’s fiancée) kagabi sabi niya sana makuha ko na ang Olympic gold tapos maging world champion ako,” disclosed Marcial who is the youngest of five siblings.
“Dito na lang muna ako kasi wala na din naman magagawa sa nangyari. Mas lalo ko naging inspirasyon kuya ko. Ito din naman ang gusto niya, maging ready ako sa Olympics,” added Marcial.
Eumir’s girlfriend Princess Galarpe together with the boxer’s cousin Anthony rushed Eliver to the Ospital ng Imus minutes after he vomited and experienced difficulty in breathing
early Saturday.