After a successful pro debut in the US last week, Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial reiterated that he is fully committed to the national team which is preparing for the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Marcial said he had talks with Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas about the possibility of him joining a training camp for the national team in Thailand.
“Na-discuss na din kay sir Ricky 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 amatuer dahil yun yung goal natin, Olympics pa din. Kung anong plano nila and ok naman, kung wala namang probema 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 boxing national team’s psychological personnel Marcus Jarwin.
According to Marcial, he is fully committed to the national team as he attempts to win the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics, and his training is focused on getting better before the Games.
Marcial turned pro by signing a deal with the MP Promotions of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao last July. Last week, he made his pro debut and scored a unanimous decision victory opposite 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 head coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in LA.
“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 since the MP Promotions is looking for an opponent.
Marcial said he is not coming home for the holidays, a big sacrifice he said considering he will not spend Christmas with family and fiancée Princess Jenniel Cabradilla Galarpe.
He said it was the same reason when he opted not to go back 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 fiamcee 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.