Eumir open to joining ABAP camp in Thailand
After a successful pro debut in the US last week, Olympic-bound boxer Eumir Felix Marcial said he is fully committed and focused on the preparations for the Tokyo Games next year.
Marcial bared he had talks with Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Rickie Vargas about the possibility of joining a training camp for the national team in Thailand.
“Na-discuss na din kay sir Rickie na may training camp kami (national team) sa Thailand this January,” said Marcial in an interview with The Chasedown on One PH over Cignal TV last Saturday.
“Inaayos pa nila, kung maa-aprub at kung maayos nila yung sa training camp. Tinanong nila sa akin kung makasama daw ako dun, sabi ko yes magpapaalam ako (with MP Promotions), aayusin namin yung schedule dito (in the US).
“Then sabi nila baka April may tournament din sa amateur. Ang priority natin tournament sa amateur dahil yun yung goal natin, Olympics pa din. Kung anong plano nila and ok naman, kung wala namang problema sa training, anytime naman sasama ako,” he added.
The 25-year-old Marcial said he also had separate discussions regarding his situation with ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson and team psychological personnel Marcus Jarwin.
Marcial turned pro by signing a deal with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions last July, making his pro debut via a unanimous decision victory over American Andrew Whitfield at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The bout was a four-rounder and Marcial said that strategy is in line with his preparation for the Olympics under Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
“Ginagawa kasi nila coach Freddie ngayon, dinidikit ako sa four rounds,” said Marcial. “Kumabaga yung preparation na pang Olympics, close lang sa three rounds, four rounds.”
“Basta yung technique (is there), and points-points lang andun pa rin,” he said, adding that his next match is likely another four-rounder against a still unknown fighter.
Marcial said he is not coming home for the holidays, a big sacrifice considering that he will not be home this Christmas with his family and fiancée Princess Jenniel Cabradilla Galarpe.
He said it was the same reason when he opted not to go home from the US following the death of his brother Eliver Marcial – the eldest of the Marcial brothers at 39 – last October.
“Pinili ko na mag-stay na lang dito at mag-training para maghanda kung may laban ako sa February or March,” said Marcial. “Kahit na hindi ko makasama ang pamilya sa Pasko, yung fiancee ko.”
Marcial earned a spot in the Tokyo Olympics via the 2020 Asia Oceania Olympic boxing qualifiers last March in Amman, Jordan. He considers Russia, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Kazakhstan as serious contenders for the gold medal.