Young boxer Marcial has sights on Olympics

The good son: Marcial with parents Eulalio and Carmelita. Photographs by Richard Reyes

MANILA, Philippines—World Junior champion Eumir Felix Marcial has no plans of turning pro just yet.

Perhaps not until he gets a crack at representing the Philippines in the Olympics someday.

“Wala sa isip ko, kasi ang nasa isip ko Olympics at makakuha ng gold medal (I haven’t thought of that because my mind is pre-occupied with the Olympics and to get a gold medal),” the 17-year-old Marcial told INQUIRER.net.

Marcial conquered the light welterweight (64kg) class by outclassing Mongolia’s Batzorig Otgonjorgal, 29-12 in the finals of the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships held in Subic.

Marcial, the Zamboanga native, said he knew coming in he would take home the gold.

“May tiwala naman po ako sa sarili ko sa coach ko at unang-una may tiwala ako sa pagdarasal ko sa itaas na makukuha ko ang gintong medalya (I have faith in myself and my coach and first of all, I have faith in praying to the One above, that I will get a gold medal),” said Marcial, who along with light flyweight Jade Bornea, flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and bantamweight James Palicte were recognized for their four-gold haul by the PBA Sunday night.

“Masaya po at proud ako sa sarili ko na nakapagbigay ako ng karangalan sa bansa natin at napatunayan ko na malakas ang Pinoy (I am happy and I am proud of myself that I will give honor to our country and I have proven that the Filipinos are strong),” added the five-foot-nine Marcial, who also eyes a SEA Games stint.

The Philippines’ impressive four gold medals almost beat Kazakhstan (4-1-0) in the medal count of the 240nation tournament.