3 pro fights lined up for Eumir Marcial ahead of Tokyo Olympics

FILE — Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Tristan Tamayo

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions is lining up three fights for its newest recruit Eumir Marcial ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Marcial, who just signed a six-year deal with MP Promotions, could be making his keenly-awaited professional debut in October, according to the promotion’s president Sean Gibbons.

“Right now, we’d hope to possibly have about three fights. Hopefully, we do something in October and then we’ll work from there,” Gibbons said during Tuesday’s PSA Forum Webinar.

The Tokyo Olympics has been rescheduled for July 23 next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gibbons thinks Marcial has more than enough time to get his feet wet in the pros without it being a distraction in his bid for an Olympic gold.

“Hopefully about three fights before he has to stop and fully concentrate on the Olympics.”

Surrounded by high expectations, the 24-year-old Marcial said he’s not letting the pressure get in the way of his goals.

“As a boxer, I’m always ready especially in my training. I’m also excited to fight in the pros and to continue my training with my coaches. I’m ready any time,” Marcial said in Filipino.

Gibbons said Marcial will be competing in the middleweight division or 160 pounds in his pro career.

The Zamboanga City native, winners of three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and a silver in the 2019 AIba World Boxing Championships, doesn’t see any problems with the weight difference despite fighting at 165 pounds as an amateur.

In fact, he said that fighting at middleweight is where he feels most comfortable with.

“Middleweight really fits me well. I feel that my body and conditioning are at best when it comes to middleweight.”