Eumir Marcial back in US to prepare for potential April bout, SEA Games bid

Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial (left) is reunited with MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons in the boxer’s Los Angeles apartment Monday night. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Eumir Marcial is bound for a busy next several months with a second professional bout and a Southeast Asian Games stint in the offing.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist arrived in the United States Tuesday (Manila time) and will hold camp in Los Angeles with a potential April fight ahead.

“Finally, I can now fully focus on my training. I was told to prepare for a scheduled outing. I need to be in excellent shape because I want to get back in the ring soon and also make myself available for the national team by May,” said Marcial.

The SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam will be held from May 12 to 25 and Marcial is keen on adding another gold medal to his collection.

The 26-year-old middleweight has won the gold in the past three editions of the biennial meet.

But before making it to Hanoi, Marcial will be working double time in the US where he a trip to Las Vegas is also lined up as part of his buildup.

Marcial will train with famed conditioning coach Angel Memo Heredia in Las Vegas which is something that excites the Zamboanga City native.

“I thank sir Sean (Gibbons, MP Promotions President) and Senator Manny (Pacquiao) for making sure I get the best possible team here in the US. I know a lot of great things that coach Memo has done that’s why it excites me a lot that I will also be under Memo’s program,” he said.

Marcial, who signed a multi-year deal with MP Promotions two years ago, had a rousing pro debut in December 2020, outclassing American Andrew Whitfield in a four-rounder in Los Angeles.