Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial will be going home without a medal from the Paris Olympics.

The veteran lost via points to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the round-of-16 of the men’s 80-kilogram division at the North Paris Arena yesterday (Philippine time).

It was a stunning result for Marcial, who was hoping to improve upon the bronze medal that he won in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

But Marcial found the younger, taller Khabibullaev a tricky opponent, and he struggled throughout the bout to break past the Uzbek boxer’s jab.

He landed an eye-catching left to end the first round, but it was not enough as all the judges gave the opener to Khabibullaev.

Marcial won just one of the five judges’ scorecards in the second frame, forcing him to go for broke in the third round.

A more aggressive Marcial swarmed in the third round and did enough to get the nod on three scorecards, but it was too little, too late, as Khabibullaev snatched the win.

Marcial became the first Filipino boxer to bow out of contention, after Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio both progressed in their respective weight classes.

The 20-year-old Khabibullaev, who is making his Olympic debut, will be up against either Kaan Aykutsun of Turkiye or Arlen Lopez Cardona of Cuba in the quarterfinals. (ABS-CBN News)