Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial has secured his ticket to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris after another knockout win in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Wednesday, October 4.

Marcial scored a second-round knockout of his Syrian opponent, Ahmad Ghousoon, in the semifinals of the men’s 80-kilogram weight class at the Hangzhou Gymnasium.

By advancing to the finals of the division, he not only has a chance to fight for the Asian Games gold — he also clinched his place in the Paris Olympics.

Boxing is one of the sports in the Asiad program that also serves as an Olympic qualifier.

This will be Marcial’s second straight Olympics. He won a bronze while fighting as a middleweight in the Tokyo Games in 2021.

However, he will be fighting at a heavier weight class in Paris, as the middleweight division was scrapped from the program.

“Nawalan na ako ng pag-asa noong naghahanda ako para sa professional fight ko. Sabi ko, wala na ‘yung division ko sa Olympics. Baka hindi na para sa akin itong Olympics,” an emotional Marcial told reporters after his win, as posted by One Sports.

“Sabi ko, ‘Dito na lang, magfo-focus na lang ako sa pro.’ Pero sa aking asawa, sa aking pamilya, sa mga kaibigan ko na naniniwala sa akin, sabi niya, ‘Kaya mo. Kung may pagkakataon ka, gawin mo,'” he added.

Marcial got the nod from three of the five judges in the first round, but he refused to let the bout go to the scorecards.

A crushing right hook forced Ghousoon into the canvas midway through the second round, giving Marcial the stoppage win.

“Kita ko talaga noong una pa lang, iniinda niya na ‘yung suntok ko eh. Sabi ko dahan-dahanin ko lang,” Marcial said of his game plan.

It was his second straight knockout victory in the Asian Games.

In the quarterfinals, Marcial also defeated Thailand’s Weerapon Jongjoho via second round stoppage after recovering from a standing eight-count in the opening frame.

He also improves upon the bronze medal that he won in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, when he fought in the 75kg weight class.

Marcial will be up against China’s Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke in the finals, after the home bet claimed a split decision win over Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the other semifinal.

The 27-year-old Marcial is the fourth Filipino athlete to qualify for next year’s Paris Games, after pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan. (ABS-CBN News)