Eumir Marcial in the Asia/Oceania boxing Olympic qualifiers. ABAP PHOTO
Eumir Marcial came out as the sturdier fighter in a vicious slugfest and clinched the middleweight gold medal in the Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan.
Marcial pulled off a split decision victory over Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Amankul in the finals, punctuating a scintillating campaign that secured him a spot in the Tokyo Olympics.
Gifted with heavy fists, Marcial saved enough energy in the third and final round, connecting on a number of jabs to the head and body to convince three judges, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29.
Marcial hit the deck when Amankul sneaked in a solid right to the body late in the third round, but the referee refused to count it as a knockdown, paving the way for the Filipino to clinch the title.
Joining the 24-year-old world championship silver medalist in Tokyo is flyweight Irish Magno, who likewise secured an Olympic slot with a win in a qualifying box-off against Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qusomova.
They will gear up for the Olympics with pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo.
Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who failed to land an Olympic berth, have a chance to redeem themselves in the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Paris, France in May along with the other members of the national boxing team.