The day after he and Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares fought like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Eumir Marcial could not bring himself to answer calls from just about anybody, including an inquisitive reporter who wanted to know what’s down the line for the heavy-handed Filipino southpaw.

“Sorry for not picking up the calls right away because my head was buzzing,” Marcial told DAILY TRIBUNE on Sunday, days after escaping with a 10-round majority decision win during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Thrilla in Manila at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

You simply can’t blame Marcial for feeling that way in the aftermath of his seventh professional fight which netted him the World Boxing Council International middleweight crown.

Colmenares, tall and rangy and gutsy, would later claim that he was robbed of a victory but he proved to be more than just a worthy opponent for the unbeaten Marcial, who had never gone past six rounds in the pros.

“It was one hell of a fight,” said Marcial, who picked himself up from a knockdown each in the third and tenth rounds to earn scores of 94-94 and 95-93 (twice).

The victory comes with a big responsibility.

“I came to realize that I have to work harder. There were mistakes made and we have to address all of them,” said the Zamboanga native who celebrated his 30th birthday on the day of the fight.

One of the issues Marcial feels will have to be addressed is the creation of a core team.

“I have to have a conditioning coach, a nutritionist…,” he said.

Marcial set up camp in Las Vegas for over a month before returning to the Philippines two weeks before the Colmenares clash.

During the fight, Marcial got instructions from Joven Jimenez, who tapped his fighter, former world champion Jerwin Ancajas to help out in the corner work.

American dealmaker Sean Gibbons has come up with a blueprint for Marcial’s path towards a world title shot.

Next year, Marcial is expected to fight three times and if victorious, Gibbons would help him secure a crack at the world championship.

“From this day onward, I have to be at my best because as what Sen. Manny Pacquiao said ‘to be the best, you have to fight the best.’”