Marcial commits to Asian Games
EUMIR Marcial (right) is laser-focused on winning the gold medal in the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial will remain focused on the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan after his undercard fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. card was postponed.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Marcus Manalo told DAILY TRIBUNE that the 30-year-old pugilist remains committed to the Asiad, where he will reunite with teammates Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
Legal and financial issues in Mayweather’s camp forced the much-anticipated rematch to be postponed until 2027.
“Even prior to postponement, he has committed for the Asian Games,” Manalo said in an online conversation.
Marcial is currently in Tokyo, where he was supposed to prepare for his professional fight in Nevada.
But with him already in Japan, he will have no trouble adjusting to the conditions ahead of the Asiad.
Marcial will be eyeing redemption after losing to Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan of China in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Now, he is aiming to become the first Filipino boxer to win a gold medal in the Asian Games since Rey Saludar accomplished the feat in the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou, China.
Manalo said they are weighing their options on where to hold their training camp for the Asian Games.
“We’re going to look for other opportunities because there might be some tournaments we might join,” Manalo said.
