Eumir seeks fourth SEA Games gold
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 07 Oct 2021
Marcial.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial said yesterday he plans to fight for a fourth SEA Games gold in Vietnam in May but it won’t mean derailing his campaign in the pro ranks.
Marcial said his next pro bout could be in a proposed card on Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s 43rd birthday on Dec. 17 but if IATF restrictions persist, he’ll prepare for another engagement in the US. Nothing is certain at the moment and the only thing that’s final is Marcial’s wedding date with long-time girlfriend Princess Galarpe at Pico de Loro, Batangas, on Oct. 28. The day after the wedding, Marcial will turn 26.
Marcial turned pro in Los Angeles in December last year, scoring a unanimous four-round decision over Andrew Whitfield. Then, he went to Tokyo and bagged the Olympic bronze medal, blasting Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi and Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan before losing a 3-2 split decision to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the semis.
ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said there are no rules barring fighters to switch from pro to amateur and back, even multiple times. An example is 2016 Olympian Charly Suarez who fought thrice as a pro before bagging a gold medal at the SEA Games in 2019. He returned to the pro ranks then prepared to fight in the Olympic qualifiers in Paris last June. The qualifiers, however, were cancelled due to the pandemic and Suarez, a three-time SEA Games gold medalist, lost a chance for a second Olympic appearance. Suarez, 33, has since gone back to the pros, now boasting an 8-0 record, with six KOs. Picson said Suarez is welcome to try out for a spot on the national team competing in the next SEA Games.
“When Charly rejoined the national team in 2019, we reinstated him and brought back his allowance from PSC,” said Picson. “He trained with us starting in October, stayed with the team at our quarters. But as soon as he reverted to pro, we took him out of the PSC rolls again. We’ll bring him back if he rejoins us for the SEA Games.”
Marcial said if the Pacquiao card doesn’t push through, he’ll likely fly to LA, resume training at the Wild Card Gym and spend the holidays abroad. Marcial also said he could do a second pro fight in the US in January or February. “Magandang preparasyon para sa SEA Games,” he said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Tue, 01 Jul 2025CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
Tue, 01 Jul 2025Dumadag holds chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
By Ace Freeman, Mon, 30 Jun 2025DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
Mon, 30 Jun 2025Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Mon, 30 Jun 2025SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 29 Jun 2025Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 29 Jun 2025Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
Sun, 29 Jun 2025USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Sun, 29 Jun 2025