MANILA ᅳ Eumir Marcial is poised to bring home the elusive Olympic boxing gold for the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Games. Celebrating 100 years of the Philippines’ participation in the Olympics, the Association of Boxing Alliances (ABAP) is hopeful that this will be the year they achieve this historic milestone.
ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo expressed strong confidence in the country’s five boxing representatives, believing that their rigorous journey to qualify has prepared them to overcome the odds. “Personally, I feel this is our best chance to win that elusive gold medal in the Olympics,” he stated last June. “We focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves, but we are very optimistic about our strong team.”
Among these fighters is 28-year-old Eumir Marcial from Zamboanga City. Since earning a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, Marcial has been intensifying his preparations for the Olympics. He recently secured a victory against Thailand’s Theodsak Sinam with a fourth-round knockout in a professional fight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. Marcial emphasized the importance of this victory as part of his journey to Paris.
“Competing is crucial because it gives me exposure. Training for a specific fight is different from just training. This fight was preparation not just for now, but for Paris as well,” Marcial explained.
Marcial has been determined to improve on his bronze-medal finish from the Tokyo Olympics. “After winning bronze in 2021, I realized I could win gold. That’s why I competed again in the Asian Games and qualified for the Paris Olympics to win the gold,” he said after receiving his Asiad incentive from the Philippine Olympic Committee.
In Tokyo, Marcial settled for bronze after losing his semifinal bout against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the men’s middleweight (75 kg). Now competing in a new weight class (80 kg), Marcial aims not only to surpass his previous achievement but to dominate.
“My goal isn’t just to participate in the Paris Olympics, but to win gold. Eumir Marcial, Olympic Gold in Paris,” he declared.
Following his recent home court win, Marcial’s determination remains unwavering. “Expect even better from me,” Marcial assured.
Currently training in Germany, Marcial will join his fellow Olympians in Metz, France, ahead of the opening on July 26. The boxing event begins on July 27.
