FILE – The Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial competing against Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Cuong during the 30th Southeast Asian Games Men’s Middleweight (75 kg). INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon
MANILA, Philippines — Eumir Marcial will be the only one of the four Filipino Olympic-bound boxers that will compete in the 2021 Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai from May 21 to June 1.
In an interview with former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala’s Power and Play show, Marcial said that he’s already in the lineup and that he was the only one from the Olympic roster that will compete in Dubai as he’s already vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Actually, I’m already in the lineup that will go to Dubai for the May 21 event, we’re just fixing the necessary documents now,” said Marcial in Filipino. “I’m the only Olympian who’s going there.”
Marcial, who’s now in Zamboanga after spending the previous months in the United States, got his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine back on March 27 when he and IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas got inoculated.
Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam won’t be competing in Dubai as, Marcial said, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines is taking every precaution against the virus.
“ABAP is being careful also, even I. Although I’m vaccinated, I’m still very careful,” said Marcial.
ABAP Secretary-General Ed Picson said that they will send a team to Dubai, though, a final lineup is yet to be announced.
Marcial, a silver medalist in the world championships and a gold winner in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, said fighting in the Dubai tiff will be a good opportunity for him to get some fights in before Tokyo.
“I can have some tune-up fights against amateurs there, then after that another month of training before the Olympics,” said Marcial, who recently turned pro and has one win under his belt.