Tokyo Olympics-bound boxer Eumir Marcial arrived in the country from the US early Tuesday, April 20, together with International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, giving him ample time to join the national team in its training camp abroad.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Ed Picson said that ABAP is in constant communication with Marcial even when the latter was in Los Angeles.
“We just wanted to make sure na tuloy yong flight (We just wanted to make sure that his flight here is confirmed),” Picson said.
“We’re still trying to find out how long his quarantine period is, whether it’s seven or 14 days. Then we’ll coordinate with Zamboanga on how he and Gerson Nietes can train there.”
Marcial is one of four Filipino boxers that earned a spot in the Tokyo Olympics.
Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam left in early March for Bangkok with 12 other members of the boxing team for a training camp and a few mini tournaments in Thailand.
Aside from Thailand, the national team is also eyeing a possible training camp in India before the ASBC meet on May 21-30 in New Delhi.
After he clinched a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, the 25-year-old Marcial opted to turn professional a few months later when he signed a deal with MP Promotions of Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Marcial won his first pro fight last December 16 when he scored a unanimous victory against American Andrew Whitfield at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Since turning pro, he has been training with legendary coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in L.A.
ABAP, led by its president Ricky Vargas, has been encouraging Marcial to join the training camp of the national team so that he and the Filipino coaches can strategize and plan for the Tokyo Olympics.
Now that he is back in the country, it’s just a matter of time for Marcial to hopefully join his fellow Olympics bound fighters Petecio, Magno and Paalam – either in India or in Thailand.
Ancajas, meanwhile, successfully defended his IBF super flyweight crown against Mexican challenger Jonathan Rodriguez last April 10. As a Philippine Navy reservist, he was welcomed by officers upon his arrival. (With a report from Ariel Fernandez)