Eumir Marcial has the chance to finish the Philippines’ search for Olympic boxing gold in the upcoming 2024 Paris Games.
In the 100th year of the country’s participation in the quadrennial meet, the Association of Boxing Alliances (ABAP) is hoping to finally clinch the elusive boxing gold in the Summer Games.
ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo previously expressed his confidence in the country’s five representatives in Paris, saying that what they had to go through had given him hope that they would overcome the odds for the Philippines yet again.
“Ako, personally, I feel that this is the best chance for us to win that elusive gold medal in the Olympics,” he said last June.
“‘Pag nag-uusap-usap kami, we focus on the process, and we let the results take care of itself, but we’re very optimistic na this is really a strong five that we’re bringing. They went through a lot just to be able to qualify, so nung nag-qualify na, we really have the chance to go all the way,” he added.
Among the fighters that he is leaning on is Marcial, the 28-year-old pugilist from Zamboanga City, who has ramped up his preparation for his return to the Olympics later this month.
Aside from Marcial’s series of camps since his silver-medal finish in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games, he also triumphed over Thai foe Theodsak Sinam via a fourth-round knockout in a professional fight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
During interviews, he emphasized the importance of that victory to his overall journey to Paris.
“Napakalaking bagay po na lumaban po ako, dahil after ko mag-qualify nung sa Asian Games last year, wala na po akong exposure,” he said.
“Iba po kasi ‘yung nagte-training ka lang sa nagte-training ka na may pinaghahandaan ka na laban. Itong laban, pinaghadaan namin, hindi lang para dito, kundi para din sa Paris,” Marcial added.
This is crucial because as early as December of last year, Marcial had already expressed his desire to bounce back from his bronze-medal finish in Tokyo.
“Tulad ng sinabi ko nung 2021, nakuha ko po ‘yung bronze. Kumbaga, nakita ko na kaya kong kunin ‘yung gold. Kaya nandito ako ngayon, lumaban ulit sa Asian Games, nag-qualify sa Paris Olympics para makuha ‘yung gold,” he said after he received his Asiad incentive from the Philippine Olympic Committee.
He settled for bronze in Tokyo after dropping his semifinals bout against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the men’s middleweight (75 kilogram), but the 5-foot-11 prized fighter is keen on not only surpassing that but completely ruling his new weight class (80 kg).
“‘Yung goal ko, hindi lang makapag-participate lang sa Paris Olympics, kundi makuha ‘yung gold. Eumir Marcial, Paris Olympics? No. Eumir Marcial, Olympic Gold in Paris,” he said.
Months later, following his win on his home court, the stance remains the same.
“Asahan niyo po, mas lalo ko pang gagalingan,” said Marcial following his victory.
Marcial is now in Germany for his training camp, and he is set to join his fellow Olympians in Metz, France ahead of the opening on July 26. The boxing event starts on the 27th. (ABS-CBN News)