Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan (left) and Philippines’ Eumir Marcial (right). AFP/REUTERS FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines–Standing in Eumir Marcial’s way from a guaranteed medal at the Tokyo Olympics is Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan.
Marcial had already beaten Darchinyan three years ago in a tournament in Russia.
But Marcial knows there’s no room for complacency if he is to repeat against Darchinyan.
“I’ve already faced Darchinyan before back in 2018 in Russia. I beat him there but of course, everyone prepared really hard for the Olympics. I know he is really prepared for his fight,” Marcial said in Filipino after a triumphant Olympic debut on Thursday at Kokugikan Arena.
The 25-year-old Marcial showed why he is deemed as the fighter to beat in the men’s middleweight class after outclassing Younes Nemouchi of Algeria in a first-round stoppage.
Darchinyan also dominated in his round of 16 match as he breezed through Slovakia’s Andrej Csemez for a unanimous decision victory.
Like Marcial, Darchinyan is also a professional fighter with a 1-0 record after making his pro debut in 2019 with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner.
Marcial trained extensively under Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood as part of his buildup for the Tokyo Games.
The pride of Zamboanga City turned pro in July last year and signed a six-year deal with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.
Under the tutelage of Roach, Marcial demolished American Andrew Whitfield in a middleweight four-rounder as part of a Premier Boxing Champions card last December in Los Angeles, California.
The 27-year-old Darchinyan is also the nephew of former two-division champion Vic Darchinyan, whom Nonito Donaire stopped in spectacular fashion for the IBF flyweight title in 2007.
They face off on August 1 for a semifinal berth.