AIBA PRESIDENT SAYS HE HOPES TO SEE YOUTH GOLD MEDALIST MARCIAL IN THE 2016 OLYMPICS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 Aug 2011
Marcial.
Eumir Felix Marcial, the 15 year old from a poor family in Zamboanga scored a spectacular victory over tough Cenigiz Onat of Turkey 9:7 to win the coveted first gold medal for the Philippine since the start of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in 2011.
An AIBA report on the finals in Astana, Kazakhstan where Russia won four gold medals and one silver said ?Marcial ended his excellent run with the first gold for Asia? in the light bantamweightdivisionwith a close win at the Kazakhstan Sports Palace in Astana.
AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu was so impressed with Marcial that he gave the young Filipino fighter words of advice during a chance meeting at the Beijing Palace where the Philippine entourage had dinner.
Dr. Wu said "I suggest that your organization take care of this kid because he has exciting potentials. I hope to see him in the 2016 Olympics."
In a post fight interview Marcial said ?I hit him with a good left to the body in the second round and I saw him wince in pain. At that point I knew I have a great chance but I just kept my focus and kept in mind what my coach told me to do."
Marcial?s coach, former three-time Olympian Romeo Brin praised Marcial saying "He's very attentive to my instructions and that's what's good about this kid. When he remained standing during the break entering the third round, I already felt he will win this fight"
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Ricky Vargas was elated over Marcial?s showing pointing out that ?the PLDT-ABAP national champion traveled abroad for the first time to compete internationally.?
The hard-hitting Filipino youngster beat rivals from formidable boxing countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Turkey.
Vargas told the Daily Inquirer that he had discussed with ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan a possible incentive for the kid from a poor family. The amount is likely to be P300,000 for what the ABAPpresident described as ?the triumph of the Pinoy spirit.?
A report on Marcial?s bout said he used a number of excellent combinations to win the gold and was a fan favorite and one of the outstanding winners highlighted by his rousing first round knockout victory over Vaha Eduard of Belarus in the semi finals.
The crowd was amazed when Marcial floored Eduard with a perfectly timed right hook that send the Belarus fighter stumbling forward.
Eduard beat the count and stood up at five but the referee called it off after the mandatory eight count as the Belarus youngster was groggy and not fit to continue. The time was 1:22 of the opening round.
While his Turkish foe proved to be much tougher the aggressive and flashy Marcial jumped to an early 3-2 lead at the end of round one and maintained a one point spread 6-5 at the end of the second.
After increasing his lead to two points in the final round Marcial showed nifty footwork to stay away from Onat in the dying seconds knowing he had done enough to win the gold medal.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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