Eumir faces Viet ‘suki’
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Sep 2023
One down, four to go. That’s the countdown for lightheavyweight boxer Eumir Marcial in chasing gold in the 80kg division of the Hangzhou Asian Games. Last Sunday, Marcial opened his Asiad campaign with a bang, outpointing Mongolia’s Dalai Gonzorig, 5-0. It will take four more wins for Marcial to clinch a ticket to the Paris Olympics. His next opponent is Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Cuong on Friday.
Nguyen is a familiar foe. Twice, they battled in the SEA Games and twice, Marcial emerged victorious. In the 75kg quarterfinals of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, Marcial pounded out a 5-0 verdict over Nguyen. They met again in the 75kg final of the 2019 Manila SEA Games and this time, Marcial scored a first round knockout. Nguyen took a standing eight-count then was decked as Marcial finished him off with a flourish. A win on Friday will take Marcial to the quarterfinals on Oct. 1. The semifinals are scheduled on Oct. 4 and the final on Oct. 5. Expected to crowd Marcial in the race to the top are Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev, Kazakhstan's Nurbek Oralbay and China’s Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke.
Marcial, 27, was set to face undefeated Antonio Woods in an eight-round pro bout in Las Vegas but when it was cancelled, the call to fight in the Asian Games----an Olympic boxing qualifier----came. “It’s a short period between Olympics, only three years and we made a team decision----Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Eumir, Princess, myself----that it would be a tremendous thing to go to the Asian Games and not to have any regrets in life that he could’ve, should’ve if he didn’t try to qualify for Paris,” said MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons. “You never want to regret what you could’ve done so we made the right decision.”
Action in Hangzhou boxing picks up today as heavyweight John Marvin takes on Nepal’s Nepal Rabin. Tomorrow, it’s lightmiddleweight Marjon Pianar’s turn to rumble as he meets Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujae. On Friday, featherweight Nesthy Petecio enters the ring to face Chinese-Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting and Marcial tangles with Nguyen in their third head-to-head clash.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Zuffa Boxing set to unveil its maiden card on January 23 in Las Vegas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’ve got an army and army’s move in numbers’ Owen Corrigan returns for Light Heavyweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Sat, 10 Jan 2026Pasalamat Festival Chess Tour 2026 to Push Through
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 10 Jan 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS & TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO PRESENT CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - VERONA, NY
Sat, 10 Jan 2026ELIF TURHAN SIGNS NEW MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING – FIRST IBF WORLD TITLE DEFENCE DATE SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
Sat, 10 Jan 2026Driving Philippine Tennis Forward: Jean Henri Lhuillier Champions the 2026 Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Tour
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 10 Jan 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’m ready to make some noise’ Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 09 Jan 2026Dableo and Laylo's Team to Compete in Bulacan
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9
Fri, 09 Jan 2026Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation
Fri, 09 Jan 2026IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media
Fri, 09 Jan 2026SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 08 Jan 2026