It’s D-Day for Eumir
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Dec 2020
Tokyo Olympic middleweight boxing qualifier Eumir Marcial of Zamboanga City makes his pro debut against unheralded Andrew Whitfield, a paper mill worker on a 12-hour shift in Lewiston, Idaho, in a scheduled four-round bout at the Shrine Exposition Hall in Los Angeles this morning (Manila time, Thursday, Dec. 17). Never has there been as much hype over a Filipino boxer entering the pro ranks as Marcial’s launching pad. D-Day for Marcial could mean Debut Day or Demolition Day or both.
Whitfield, 29, isn’t expected to survive the distance with the heavy-handed Marcial. He has a 3-1 record, with 2 KOs, but in his only loss to Billy Wagner on points two years ago, the man nicknamed “Sunshine” was dropped twice in the first round and once in the fourth before the sun set. Whitfield, who is married with two sons, once said he’s “a nobody from nowhere” and has fought in only four bouts in four years. Trainer Richard Jackson, 74, took care of his preparations for Marcial but his credentials pale in comparison to Freddie Roach, Marvin Somodio and Justin Fortune who are in the Filipino’s team. Roach, Somodio and cutman Mike Rodriguez will be in Marcial’s corner for the fight. Madison Guernsey of the Lewiston Tribune wrote that “this fight could change the trajectory of (Whitfield’s) career.”
Marcial, 25, arrived in L. A. last Oct. 12 and less than a week later, received news that his older brother Eliver died from an apparent heart attack at 39 in the Imus, Cavite, home they shared since the lockdown in March. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons offered to fly Marcial back to Manila for the funeral but holding back his tears, the fighter decided to stay and focus on his career because that would’ve been his brother’s wish.
Gibbons said the fight “is just another process in his road to Tokyo 2021.” “Eumir knows what the goals are,” he added. “The Olympic gold medal then the world title. His strong points are great----speed, chin and determination. All he needs is just practice and more practice. The sparring that Eumir gets in the US and training with coach Freddie, Marvin and Justin are fantastic.”
In L. A., Marcial stays in a house with IBF superflyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas, superflyweight contender Jonas Sultan, Ancajas’ manager/trainer Joven Jimenez and training assistant Fernando Parcon. Occasionally, Marcial and Ancajas engage in friendly backyard sparring. “Hindi naman todo ang lakas ni Eumir pero sabi ni Jerwin, sobrang bigat ang suntok niya,” said Jimenez. “Sabi naman ni Eumir, super galing ni Jerwin at mabilis ang release niya. Maganda kasi focus sa training dito at walang ibang iniisip tapos alaga kami ni Sir Sean. Excited si Eumir. Malaking improvement yung short punches niya at footwork, yung power sobra sa timbang niya. Nakita namin sa sparring ang kaniyang timing at hindi nagmamadali. Versatile si Eumir.” Jimenez predicted Marcial to stop Whitfield in two rounds. In yesterday’s weigh-in, Marcial tipped the scales at 162.4 pounds and Whitfield, 165.8.
ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said he’s looking forward to Marcial’s sensational debut. “I believe in Eumir’s abilities and I think he can hurdle whatever challenges come his way so long as he’s focused on the task at hand,” said Picson. “I hope the training and the fight in the US can help him in his Olympic quest.”
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