Suarez, Marcial carry heavier task for Team Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Charly Suarez and Eumir Felix Marcial will both carry a heavier task when they try to regain and retain the gold medal in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Suarez, four days away from his 29th birthday, is a two-time SEA Games champion, in 2009 in Laos as a featherweight and in 2011 in Indonesia as a lightweight.

Marcial, who’s only 21, is the reigning SEA Games champion at welterweight.

But in this SEA Games, organizers have trimmed down the number of boxing events from 10 in 2015 in Singapore to just six, minus the women’s side and lightweight and welterweight divisions for the male boxers.

Suarez and Marcial had to make the difficult decision of competing one division higher.

From 60 kgs, Suarez, a veteran of the 2016 Rio Olympics, will now compete at 64 kg (light-welterweight) while Marcial, the 2011 World Juniors champion, will move up from 69 kg to 75 kg (middleweight).

It’s not an easy task.

“We tried to adjust. There are advantages and disadvantages,” said Suarez in Filipino during last Thursday’s formal sendoff party for the Philippine contingent to the Kuala Lumpur event set Aug. 19-31.

“I had no choice because if I did not move up in weight it means I will have to skip the SEA Games. But I’m confident I will do well even at my new weight,” added Suarez.

At his age, the Bible-preaching boxer who loves to emulate Floyd Mayweather Jr. inside the ring may be looking at his last SEA Games.

“I’m not sure. But as long as I feel I’m fit then I will continue fighting,” said Suarez, who added that he’s a little more comfortable with his weight now.

“I can eat what I want. No need to diet. At 64 (kg), I will have to face bigger opponents. But I’m ready,” he said.