Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial, right, celebrates winning the fight against Singapore’s Tay Jia Wei. Singapore SEA Games Organizing Committee /
KUALA LUMPUR — Four of boxing’s “Super Six” begin their quest for gold medals Sunday in preliminary bouts in the Southeast Asian Games at MITEC Hall 8.
Eumir Felix Marcial, Mario Fernandez and Ian Clark Bautista, champions of their respective divisions two years ago in Singapore, will lead the crew tasked to duplicate a daunting feat.
Back then, the Philippines went home with five gold medals but there were more boxing events.
Marcial will vie in 69kg-75kg, Fernandez in 52kg-56kg, and Kazakhstan President’s Cup champion Carlo Paalam in 46kg-49kg in the preliminaries starting at 3 p.m.
Joining them is two-time champion and Olympian Charly Suarez who will also vie for honor in 69kg-75kg.
Bautista will go straight to the quarterfinals in 49kg-52kg division, needing just one victory to ensure at least a medal finish.
The same thing with 75kg-81kg bet Marvin John Tupaz, who like Bautista will start his quest on Monday.