FILE – Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Boxing – Men’s Middleweight – Last 16 – Kokugikan Arena – Tokyo, Japan – July 29, 2021. Eumir Marcial of the Philippines wins the fight. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino
PHNOM PENH—Eumir Marcial felt the excitement and applauded from the stands each time a crushing punch from his fellow Filipino boxers connected.
“I’m here to support them and hopefully we can win as many gold medals as we can,” said the middleweight Olympic bronze medalist who flew in from Manila to cheer for the national boxing team.
Marcial couldn’t defend his middleweight title at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after resting a recurring injured right hand that became painful every time he climbed atop the ring.
“The scarred tissue that caused the pain was already removed and my hand is now okay,” said the 27-year-old four-time SEA Games champion since the 2017 Malaysia edition.
Right after witnessing the nine Filipino boxers figure in the gold-medal fights, Marcial will fly to Las Vegas and begin training in earnest for a probable professional fight in the United States and the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The Asian Games on Sept. 23-Oct. 8 is an Olympic continental qualifier where the finalists from each weight division progress to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The best boxers from Asia, particularly from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and host China, will be there, so it’s going to be really tough,” said Marcial, who is anticipating to fight in a 10-rounder prior to the Asian Games.
Marcial got a bronze medal from Tokyo after losing to Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak via split decision.
“I have to begin training right away if I want another shot at the Olympics. As for my professional fight, a win there will be a good exposure going into the Asian Games,” said Marcial.
“I just hope that I won’t be injured until the Olympics in case I qualify,” added Marcial.