As Eumir Marcial focuses on his eighth professional fight on 19 September, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is working on to bring in Weljon Mindoro to replace Marcial next month in the 20th Asian Games in Japan.

The ABAP entered Marcial in the 80 kilogram (light-heavyweight) category but since his pro fight takes place four days before the start of Asiad hostilities, it is not realistic for him to participate.

Being eyed to take over Marcial’s spot is Mindoro, who also has a scheduled fight in the pros but is taking place much earlier on 30 August.

Marcial, who bagged the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics at middleweight, faces Omar Ulises Huerta in a ten-rounder at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

Sean Gibbons, who promotes Marcial, plans to speed up the Zamboanga southpaw’s rise so he could challenge for a world crown in 2027.

Assisting Marcial in his Las Vegas training camp are national team coach Reynaldo Galido and Kay Koroma.

Marcial turned pro in December 2000 in Los Angeles and has since logged a 7-0-0 win-loss-draw card with four knockouts.

He barely beat Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares in his last fight in October last year during the 50th year anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.

Gibbons would like to see Marcial ditch his national team duties since his weight division in the Asian Games and the Olympics has been scrapped.