Eumir Marcial flaunts deadly form with KO win in homecoming bout

Eumir Marcial puts on a show in his homecoming fight after a knockout win over Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam in their super middleweight bout on Saturday night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.–MP PROMOTIONS/Wendell Alinea

MANILA, Philippines—Eumir Marcial showed his readiness for the Paris Olympics by knocking out Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam in the fourth round of his homecoming fight Saturday night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Marcial’s fifth professional bout ended quickly and brutally when the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist connected on a well-timed left uppercut that left the Thai journeyman down on the canvass for a few minutes.

“This fight is big for my preparation for the Paris Olympics,” Marcial, who hiked his pro record to 5-0 with three knockouts, said in Filipino.

READ: Eumir Marcial not losing sight on golden goal in Paris Olympics

“I’m satisfied with my performance because we wanted to get a knockout and we did,” he added. “As early as the second round, I’ve been trying to hit him with the uppercut in the chin. I told myself the fight would be over the moment I hit him with my uppercut. That’s what we’ve been looking for the whole fight and we were successful.”

But while Marcial’s uppercut sealed the deal, it was his consistent jabbing from the opening that made the knockout happen.

Eumir Marcial drops Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam with an uppercut in the fourth round.–MP PROMOTIONS

“Our plan was to use more jab. My sparring partners in the US used their jabs very well and I had a hard time hitting them. So we wanted to use that strategy. More jab and the knockout will come,” he said.

Marcial also knows how crucial being adept at jabbing is especially on the international stage.

“In the Olympics, Cubans, fighters from Central America, can win fights just by using their jabs. And that’s what we’re practicing as well.”

READ: Eumir Marcial slated to fight Thai amid Olympic preparations

In his first home fight since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games where he won the gold, Marcial was all smiles when he made his ring walk as the crowd cheered on.

“I did not expect to feel that way and to receive that kind of support from the crowd,” he said.

“I hope I get to fight here in the Philippines again.”

The 28-year-old Marcial plans to take a break for a week before leaving for the US in April to continue his Paris buildup.