Marcial to rejoin ABAP

After Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial takes care of business in Los Angeles early next month, he will immediately pack his bags and fly back to Manila to reunite with the national boxing team bound for Jordan.

This was revealed yesterday by national boxing team head coach Don Abnett during yesterday's online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Abnett said he remains in constant touch with Marcial, who is fighting for the third time as a professional on 8 October at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

"When we were in America (recently), I spoke to Eumir. He confided to me that he has issues he'd like to talk to me about but I don't want to discuss the issues were," Abnett said.

Still, Abnett said the stone-fisted southpaw has committed to join the national team for a two-week training camp in the Jordanian capital of Amman in preparation for the Asian championships the countries hosting from 30 October to 13 November.

Marcial had reached out to Abnett and said he was "keen" on joining the three-man boxing squad in Colorado but was simply tied to his pro commitment.

"The problem was the promoters won't allow it (compete in Colorado). He was keen on coming over and training and competing but the promoters, apparently, won't allow it," said Abnett, who presided over the team that trained at Colorado Springs and competed in nearby Pueblo town.

Though Marcial could not join them there, the 26-year-old middleweight has guaranteed Abnett and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines that he will be in Jordan.

"As far as competing in the Asian championships, I asked him about that and he said after his 8 October fight, he will come over and join us to prepare for the Asian championships," Abnett said.

Marcial arrived in the US four weeks ago and set up camp in Las Vegas.

He trains daily there alongside former world champion Jerwin Ancajas, who is also fighting on 8 October in an attempt to regain the International Boxing Federation super-flyweight throne.

Marcial assured Abnett and the ABAP that he stays in shape all the time and that he doesn't allow himself to bloat.

"Eumir said that he didn't stop training after the Southeast Asian Games (in Hanoi last May)," Abnett added.

The Asian championships is part of the ABAP's buildup for two major meets set in 2023: The Cambodia SEA Games in May and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

The Asian Games will serve as one of three qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.