Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial during the 2023 Asian Games send off ceremony. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Eumir Marcial gets to show off his flair and power in front of fellow Filipinos before turning his focus on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
On Tuesday, MP Promotions confirmed Marcial’s upcoming brawl with Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam on March 23 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
“Just like the rest of Filipinos around the country, I’m very excited to spearhead a fight for Eumir here in the Philippines, so everybody will get a chance to see him before the Paris Olympics,” said Manny Pacquiao.
READ: Eumir Marcial punches ticket to Paris Olympics, Asian Games boxing final
The owner of MP Promotions and former eight-division world champion spearheaded the effort in making the fight a reality as Marcial aims to finally seize the gold medal in what could possibly be his last Olympics.
The 28-year-old slugger from Zamboanga City claimed a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a middleweight.
Since his weight class has been scrubbed off the Paris program, Marcial will be wearing his gloves as a light heavyweight.
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said the fight will set the tone for Marcial heading to the Olympics set in July.
READ: Added weight slowly growing on Eumir Marcial
“Everybody wants to see their fellow [Filipino] Eumir, a big boxer fighting for them for free. This fight will serve as a good fitting send-off heading to his Olympic campaign. Everybody will be there too,” said Gibbons. “This is for the people.”
According to Gibbons, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Richard Bachmann, PSC Commissioners Walter Torres, Fritz Gaston, Olivia “Bong” Coo and Edward Hayco and PSC executive director Paulo Tatad have been invited to witness the fight.
Las Vegas sparring
“We are so thankful to these people for making this fight possible and for helping not only Marcial, but also the rest of the other Filipino athletes to achieve their dreams,” said Gibbons. “The POC and the PSC salute to them for helping the athletes like Eumir.”
Marcial is deep in training with sparring sessions in Las Vegas under coach Kay Koroma, who molded several amateur boxers who saw action in the Olympics since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.
Sinam is sporting a 23-13 record with 19 knockouts while Marcial remains undefeated after four fights, two of them by knockouts.
After the fight, Marcial will return to the US to continue preparing for Paris.
“He has a great time training and sparring in the US with coach Kay. We have to remember that we’re not going to send him to war just yet, but to showcase his skills for the people,” said Gibbons.
Marcial clinched his ticket to the French capital after claiming a silver medal in the light heavy division at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games last year. INQ