Marcial may vie as middleweight

MANILA, Philippines - Eumir Felix Marcial, one of five boxers who delivered the gold medal for the Philippines in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, is not giving up his chance to make it two in a row.

The 21-year-old Marcial is gearing up for this year’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur even if his division, the welterweight class, was removed from the calendar of events.

Also scratched from the list was the lightweight class, where Pinoy boxers Junel Cantancio won the gold medal two years ago. Only six weight classes in the men’s division will be disputed in Kuala Lumpur after the entire women’s division was scrapped.

According to coach Nolito “Boy” Velasco, Marcial may move up to the next weight class.

“We’re evaluating his chances if he moves up to the middleweight division. But it looks like he can manage against the rest of the field,” said Velasco in FIlipino.

From 69 kg, Marcial may fight at 74 kg. Members of the coaching staff are quite confident that the native of Zamboanga can handle the difference.

Velasco, elder brother of Olympic boxing medalists Mansueto and Roel Velasco, said Marcial showed up at training after the Christmas holidays weighing close to 81 kilos.

“After a few sessions he was down to 75 kilos, which is the weight limit for the middleweight class. We are evaluating his condition at 75 kilos,” said Velasco of Marcial, who won the gold medal in the 2011 World Junior Championships as a flyweight (52 kg).

“If he can maintain that weight (75 kg) and move as well and hit as hard as he does at 69 kilos then we can field him in the middleweight division,” the coach added.