OUTSIDE LOOKIG IN: Eumir Marcial enters bubble on Monday
By Eddie Alinea of The Manila Times
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Dec 2020
Eumir Marcial.
Olympic qualifier pole vault Ernest John Obiena, who is in Italy, didn’t heed his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov's advice to visit Manila and spend the Holiday Season with his family so he can continue training for next year’s Summer Games in Tokyo.
And so did world gymnastic champion Carlos Yulo, who opted to remain in Tokyo for the same purpose – make himself ready in his attempt of gifting the Philippines its first ever Olympic gold medal in 96 years.
Boxer Eumir Marcial is in the United States where he chose to undergo his Olympic build up with the famed Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the latter’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Why, even Rio de Janeiro Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who still has to earn her ticket to Tokyo, is in Kuala Lumpur to, likewise, hone her skill up, to improve her second place finish the last time around into the much sought-after software of gold.
Marcial, in fact, who dispensed celebrating his 25th birthday last month besides not being in his brother’s bedside when the latter passed away, will enter the bubble this coming Sunday (Monday in Manila) as part of his preparations for his debut as a pro on Wednesday.
“Mabuti na po ang nag-i-ingat, malapit na ang napaka-importanteng laban of my career, baka ngayon pa ako dapuan ng Covid 19,” the amateur sensation in the middleweight category told this writer in a phone call on Saturday.
Marcial said he didn’t want to suffer what compatriot. featherweight Nonito Donaire, who was tested positive for Coronavirus that forced to withdraw from the Showtime main event against Emmanuel Rodriguez on Saturday, December 19 (Sunday in Manila) at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Marcial also said he’s, too, been undergoing swab testing every two days as additional precautions.
The Zamboangueno airman in the Philippine Air Force pronounced himself ready for his prizefighting debut as Roach declared him to be earlier this week, adding, though that, he’s well-prepared and eager for the four-round showdown with Whitfield of Lewiston, Idaho at the LA Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
While saying he’s happy with the way his two-month preparations at the Wild Card training camp, he,too, feels sad in the thoughts of spending Christmas away from the country and family.
“This is my life as an athlete, and this, too, for the rest of us in the national training pool have to live up with in pursuit of a noble purpose not only for us individually but for our country and the Filipinos. No regret!” he reasoned out.
His only regret, Marcial added, is that the support he’s been waiting from the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) have yet to come.
“Hindi pa kumpleto ang team ko,” he lamented in reference to his requests, among others, he submitted to ABAP and the PSC for his coaches, headed by Ronald Chavez, to be by his side while training.
“Not that coach Freddie and his training team, composed of physical conditioning guru Justin Fortune and Roach’s Filipino deputy Marvin Somodio – eh nagkukulang sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa akin," Marcial clarified.
“On the contrary, sobra-sobra na ang ginagawa nila,“ he assured. “Imagine I came here coming from an eight-month hibernation due to lockdown, but in the span of two months, they slowly but surely, naibalik na nila lahat ng nawala sa akin sa kawalan ng ensayong hindi naibigay sa akin sa Manila.”
On the other hand, Marcial attested, “masuwerte pa rin ako at tama ang naging desisyon kong pumunta na dito sa U.S. para dito mag-prepare.”
“I was told na yung mga teammates ko, especially si Irish (flyweight) Magno, na qualified na rin sa Olympics, Nesthy (world amateur featherweight champion) Petecio at iba pang atleta sa other sports eh hindi pa daw nagsisimula ng ensayo.“
“Next month January na at umpisa na ang mga qualifying tournaments sa ibang sports, kailan pa sila mag-e-ensayo? August pa lang sinasabi na nila na makakapag-ensayo na. Naka alis na ako wala pa ring ensayo. Baka mahuli na sila.”
“Tama yata sinasabi ng marami nating atleta na tumatawag sa akin dito.” he noted. “Kami lang daw yatang mga atleta ang may gustong manalo ang ating bansa ng kauna-unahan nating Olymic gold!”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of The Manila Times.
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