Eumir Marcial not losing sight on golden goal in Paris Olympics

FILE–The Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial at right reacts after defeating Syria’s Ahmad Ghousoon in the Boxing Men’s 71-80Kg Semifinal bout for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

MANILA, Philippines–Eumir Marcial assured he remains focused on fulfilling his ultimate goal of winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Marcial is set for a homecoming fight on March 23 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, where the Filipino boxing prospect aims to put on a dazzling performance and show how far he’s come in his Paris buildup.

“I am looking forward to this homecoming fight because the last time I fought in the country was during the 2019 SEA Games,” Marcial said. “And I intend to put on a great show for those who will watch and see me live. I believe that I will be more than ready by the time I get to Paris in July.”

“Even though I am fighting in March, my focus and concentration is on the Paris Olympics,” he added.

READ: Eumir Marcial punches ticket to Paris Olympics, Asian Games boxing final

The 28-year-old Marcial, who will be competing in a stacked light heavyweight class, faces a steep climb in his bid for a historic boxing gold for the Philippines in the Summer Games with some familiar names standing in his way.

“The competition there is very tough since the Cuban super champion Arlen Lopez is there as well as the Chinese who beat me in Hangzhou. The Ukrainian who beat me in the semis of the Tokyo Olympics—Oleksandr Khyzhniak—is there so it’s a star-studded cast,” added Marcial, referring to Chinese-Kazakh  Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke, who beat him by unanimous decision in the gold medal match of last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Arlen Lopez is a two-time Olympic champion while Oleksandr Khyzhniak outlasted Marcial in a semifinal slugfest at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Marcial (4-0, 2KOs), who is fighting Thai journeyman Thoedsak Sinam (23-13, 19KOs) in his first bout on home soil since winning the gold at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, has been holed up training in Las Vegas since the third week of January but will move to Tagaytay for the final stretch of his preparations beginning March 11.

Marcial is currently training under the guidance of American coach Kay Koroma and former Filipino amateur boxing standout Mario Fernandez, who was sent by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) to lend a hand in the preparations.

The Zamboanga City native’s last pro fight was in February 2023 when he stopped a much experienced Ricardo Villalba of Argentina in just two rounds in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Marcial turned pro back in December 2020.