Demolition job by Marcial
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Feb 2023
Marcial drops Villalba with a body shot.
It didn’t take long for Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial to assert his mastery over Argentina’s Ricardo Villalba at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, yesterday morning (Manila time). Marcial dropped Villalba for an eight-count with a left uppercut to the body late in the first round then landed a right hook to the head to score another knockdown before referee Mark Calo-oy stopped it at 0:48 of the second frame.
Marcial, 27, said he never expected the scheduled eight-round fight to end so soon but the Zamboanga southpaw found his range early as the flat-footed Villalba came out to engage. In the first few exchanges, the Argentine veteran landed an overhand right and tried to bully his way inside Marcial’s defense. Marcial fended him off with sharp right jabs, maintained his distance and unleashed jarring left straights that kept Villalba at bay.
Villalba, 33, fell on a knee in a delayed reaction after absorbing a vicious left to the body and got up before Calo-oy reached ten in the first round. The bell saved Villalba from taking more punishment. Villalba stormed out of his corner for the second stanza with both fists churning but Marcial calmly stayed the course. Marcial stepped back whenever Villalba threw a jab and used his arms to block short shots, frustrating the experienced roughhouser. A double right jab capped by a left straight stunned Villalba and Marcial connected with a right hook to put him down once more. Calo-oy started to count then waved it off as Villalba was clearly in no condition to continue.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said the key to Marcial’s win was his jab which he described as piston-like. Marcial said he worked hard in the gym to prepare for Villalba after critics expressed doubts on his future as a contender because of an unconvincing performance in his first three fights. Gibbons said the “real” Marcial has finally emerged. “In his first fight (against Andrew Whitfield in 2020), there were distractions like COVID and Eumir’s brother passed,” noted Gibbons. “In his second fight (against Isiah Hart last April), Eumir had difficulty making weight. In his third fight (against Steven Pichardo last October), Eumir got cut early but although it was sloppy, he kicked butt.” Marcial said he had a full camp for Villalba, running 10 miles up the Las Vegas mountains, sparring 10 to 12 rounds and training for three months.
Gibbons said with nutritionist Jeaneth Aro providing guidelines online from Manila, Marcial’s wife Princess took care of his diet. Marcial said he couldn’t have crushed Villalba the way he did without his wife’s care. “Siya ang taga-luto, taga-ayos ng gamit kaya focus lang ako sa boxing,” said Marcial who also paid tribute to coach Jorge Capetillo for his guidance.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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