SPORTS SHORTS 26: EUMIR MARCIAL TRAINS IN THE U.S. WITH SUPPORT FROM ABAP
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 16 Jan 2021
Marcial (L) in action against Whitfield.
Tokyo Olympic qualifier Eumir Felix Marcial returns to training this week from a Christmas break to train for his second professional fight in March. International matchmaker Sean Gibbons told Business Mirror that Marcial will be focusing on speed, power and ring smart, the prowess that the Zamboanga City boxer has to improve for the Summer Games in July 23 to August 8.
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Gibbons also assured Marcial, IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, Jonas Sultan and trainer manager Joven Jimenez would receive each a dose of anti-covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available to all people in the United States. "1,000 percent when it is available, we all will get a shot [Covid-19 vaccine]. So far, it is only available for seniors and frontliners,” said Gibbons, who is renting a residence in Los Angeles to accommodate Jimenez, Marcial, Ancajas and Sultan.
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Marcial defeated American Andrew Whitfield by a unanimous decision in his professional debut last December 16, 2020. It was his first fight since the Asia and Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan in March last year where he won the middleweigt gold medal. He fought with a four-round domination of Whitfield at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles, California. With Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, Marcial convinced all three judges scoring it uniformly as a shutout, 40 to 36. Marcial threw 310 punches landing 120, while his opponent only landed 46 punches.
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The 25-year-old boxer also made clear his intention to complete his preparations for Tokyo at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym and will not join the other Filipino boxers who train at the Inspire Sports Institute in Calamba, Laguna. “He has the best training here during this Covid-19 situation physically and mentally,” Gibbons said.
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Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) President Ricky Vargas throws his all out support for Marcial’s decision to prepare in the US. “I am happy with whatever decision he makes as long as it will benefit his Olympic preparations,” Vargas said. “Anything that will benefit Marcial and his Olympic preparation, we will support.”
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In a recent interview, Amir Khan called for a long awaited showdown with his career rival, Kell Brook. The two former champions have been agreeing on a possible fight for several years now, but nothing came into reality. Brook climbed the ring in November at the MGM Grand's Conference Center in Las Vegas, and got knocked out in four rounds by WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford. Khan has been inactive since the summer of 2019, when he won by knock out Billy Dib.
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Brook is still hesitant about Khan being serious about the fight but he keeps himself ready to fight if the challenge is true. "I don’t know if it’s a publicity stunt of if he does actually want it. It sounds like he does and that’s music to my ears. It’s a fight that everyone’s wanted for a long time, so if it does happen, happy days. I think it’s clear that I want the fight," Brook said to Talk Sport's White and Jordan show.
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BoxingScene Awards 2020:
Fighter Of The Year: Teofimo Lopez Jr.
Fight of the Year: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk
Round of the Year: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk Round Five
Upset of The Year: Jeison Rosario 5th-Round K.O. of Julian Williams
Prospect of The Year: Edgar Berlanga
Trainer of the Year: Derrick James
Event of the Year: COVID
Network of the Year: ESPN
Comeback of the Year: Errol Spence
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Kyrie Irving will lose almost $900,000 for violating the NBA's health and safety protocols. The NBA has fined Irving $50,000 for violating the coronavirus safety protocols, with videos showing the Brooklyn Nets guard at a family birthday party that were posted on social media. The All-Star guard will also forfeit his salary good for the two games he missed on the duration of his five-day quarantine, which ends Saturday. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Irving will lose $816,898.
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Philadelphia's Ben Simmons marked his 30th career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Simmons achieved the milestone in only his 228th career game, and he became the third-fastest player in NBA history, behind Oscar Robertson in 75 games and Magic Johnson in 190 games, to set the record as the host Philadelphia 76ers easily took care of the depleted Miami Heat, 125-108, on Thursday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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