Eumir skipping Paris Olympics
Four-time SEA Games gold medalist Eumir Marcial won’t go for a fifth laurel in Cambodia this May as he’s now focused on his pro boxing career that took an upward trajectory when the Zamboanga southpaw scored an impressive second round TKO over Argentine veteran Ricardo Villalba in San Antonio, Texas, last Saturday.
Marcial is also foregoing plans to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. “Eumir missed the 2016 Olympics but made it to Tokyo and took a bronze medal so he’s achieved his Olympic dream,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons. “The amateurs served a purpose. It’s time to become a world champion and make himself a lot of money in the pros. More belts, more titles. Difficult to go back and forth (from pro to amateur to pro). In the amateurs, you fight three rounds. In the pros, there’s a lot of strategy, thinking, pivots, picking your spots.”
Gibbons said Marcial’s performance in demolishing Villalba was proof in the pudding. Marcial was totally focused on preparing for his first eight-rounder and the concentration paid off. “Sir Sean gave me his trust and told me I believe in you, you’re gonna get stronger, you’ll become a world champion,” said Marcial. “So I work hard, learn a lot, train every day, go up the mountains to run, spar and get good conditioning.” Marcial said he watches tapes of high-caliber southpaws like WBA lightweight champion Gervonta (Tank) Davis and picks up what he can use in the ring. Gibbons called it learning by example and said Marcial’s piston-like jab could be the best he’s seen from a Filipino with his power coming close to Manny Pacquiao’s.
“Our plan is for Eumir to join the world championship ranks of Manny, Mark Magsayo, Marlon Tapales and Jerwin Ancajas,” said Gibbons. “Al Haymon (Premier Boxing Champions CEO) was the first to call after Eumir won and when he’s excited, we’ll all excited. Eumir’s next fight will be a 10-rounder and it’ll be for a regional belt. The Eumir who beat up Villalba was the Eumir who knocked out guys in the amateurs which isn’t easy to do. Villalba’s strong, aggressive, very experienced. He came to fight and could’ve quit after going down from a body shot in the first round but got up. I’ve seen Eumir hurt guys in the gym. When he throws, it’s with bad intentions. The hook that finished off Villalba could put anybody on queer street. That’s how heavy-handed he is.” Marcial and wife Princess return home next week for a brief visit then go back to Las Vegas to prepare for his next outing.