FILE – Eumir Felix Marcial of Philippines (blue). PSC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Eumir Marcial advanced to the gold medal match after taking a unanimous decision win over Kazakhstan’s Tursynbay Kulakmet in the semifinals of the Aiba World Boxing Championships at Expo Centre in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The middleweight star landed a vicious two-punch combination to knock down Kulakmet, the third seed in the 69-75-kilogram division, in the first round.
Marcial took off from there and took the 5-0 decision win, 29-27, 29-27, 30-27, 30-26, 29-28.
Marcial will face Gleb Bakshi of Russia, the eighth seed in the middleweight division, in the finals on Saturday.
Bakshi defeated Brazil’s Hebert Da Conceicao Sousa in the other semifinal.
Marcial aims to become the first Filipino to win a world title since Josie Gabuco, who captured the gold in the women’s championships in 2012.