Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial seems determined to ramp up his professional career.

The Zamboanga-bred puncher arrived in the United States and immediately plunged into training mode.

He was met at Las Vegas airport by American dealmaker Sean Gibbons, who welcomed Marcial back alongside trainer Joven Jimenez and Reynaldo Galido, a member of the Philippine national team coaching staff.

He is being lined up for a fight on 19 September in Pechanga, California, in line with Gibbons’ plan to speed up his rise in the world middleweight ratings.

Having just fought seven matches since turning pro in December 2000 in Los Angeles, Marcial hasn’t fought professionally since figuring in a brutal clash with Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares in October last year.

Gibbons is setting up the 30-year-old Marcial for a regional belt when he returns to the ring next month, a move aimed at expediting his ascent to a world title shot.

Gibbons said that if Marcial keeps on winning at the pro level, he would arrange a world title crack the soonest.

By deciding to go to America, Marcial has put his career with the Philippine team on hold.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) had entered his name in the 80 kilograms (light-heavyweight) division when Japan hosts the Asian Games beginning next month.

Though not a qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Asian Games remain an integral part of the national team’s buildup for the Olympics.

Still, Gibbons reasoned out that Marcial’s division — 75 kilograms — is now non-existent after it was scrapped.

Even in the Asian Games, only the 70 kilograms (super-welterweight) and 80 kilograms are going to be contested just like when LA hosts the Olympics.

The ABAP is proposing that Marcial could go down to 70 kilograms provided that he decides to abandon his pro plans.