60 days before Marcial fights
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Aug 2020
Eumir Marcial (aiming) in airsoft games with Jerwin Ancajas.
Tokyo Olympic middleweight boxing qualifier Eumir Marcial can fly to the US anytime but his departure from Manila will depend on when Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions books a fight for his pro debut. Once a bout is confirmed, the plan is for Marcial to train 60 days in Los Angeles with Freddie Roach and Justin Fortune before making his first pro appearance in the ring.
“Eumir can come over tomorrow but we’re waiting for Al’s signal,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons from his Las Vegas home yesterday. “He’s got a US visa. Actually, I haven’t spoken with Eumir for a week. We haven’t discussed who’ll fly with him. The schedule depends on Al. If his first fight is in November, we’ll want him in the US by September to do 60 days of gym work. Maybe his second fight could be in December or January.”
Gibbons said whether the Olympics will push through or not is something he’d like to know sooner than later to plan out Marcial’s calendar. The Tokyo Games have been reset to July 23-Aug. 8 next year. Gibbons said the priority is for Marcial to fight in the Olympics and go for gold. If the Olympics are a go, Marcial might do up to three pro fights before heading for Tokyo.
Gibbons said if IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is able to secure a US visa soon, he could be on the same flight with Marcial. “Eumir can fly out on his own but it’s a good idea if he and Jerwin can leave together,” said Gibbons. Ancajas was scheduled for an interview at the US Embassy last Aug. 17 but the appointment was postponed when Metro Manila was placed under MECQ. Ancajas is waiting for a new appointment. The expectation is Ancajas and Marcial should be able to fly out in the first or second week of September. As soon as Ancajas lands in the US, Top Rank will finalize the date for his twice-postponed title defense against Mexican Jonathan Javier Rodriguez.
Marcial recently invited Ancajas to join him in a six-man airsoft competition in General Trias, Cavite. Both fighters are based in Cavite as Marcial lives in Imus and Ancajas trains at the Heracleo Alano Philippine Fleet Naval Base in Sangley Point. “Mag-iisang buwan na ginagawa ni Eumir pag-airsoft,” said Ancajas’ trainer Joven Jimenez. “Nagustuhan ni Jerwin at sasali siya uli at maganda para sa kanila dahil grabeng pawis, naka limang damit na palit si Jerwin. Talo yung nag training. Safety naman ang laro, hindi delikado sa injury at maganda sa pawis kasi mainit na mainit ang panahon at naka-balot sila sa uniform. Mga 3-4 hours ang laro nila pero paputol-putol naman ang oras.” Gibbons learned of the airsoft games from Jimenez and said it was “good bonding” between the MP Promotions stablemates.
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