Olympic gold ang prayoridad ni Marcial
MANILA, Philippines — Hindi ang kanyang unang panalo bilang isang professional boxer ang prayoridad ni national boxing team standout Eumir Felix Marcial.
Ito ay ang masuntok ang kauna-unahang gintong medalya ng Pilipinas sa kasaysayan ng Olympic Games.
“Our focus and it’s been since day one is Tok-yo 2021 and winning the first gold medal in the history of the Philippines,” sabi kahapon ni Sean Gibbons, ang presidente ng MP Promotions ni world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao, sa webcast edition ng Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum mula sa Los Angeles, California.
“What we’ve been able to do since coming here is train with Mr. Freddie Roach, Marvin Somodio and Justine Fortune.”
Kasalukuyang nagsasanay ang 25-anyos na si Marcial sa Wild Card Boxing Gym ni Roach bilang paghahanda sa 2021 Olympic Games sa Tokyo, Japan at ang kanyang debut bilang pro fighter.
“Iyong ibang bansa po, iyong India I think seven boxers are all in Europe for training and ‘yung European countries naman nag-start na sila ng tournament. Lahat iyon naghahanda for Olympics.”
Maliban kay Marcial, may Olympic berth na rin sina pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo at lady boxer Irish Magno.
Umaasa ring makakasama nina Marcial at Magno sa 2021 Tokyo Olympics sina national boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon at Ian Clark Bautista.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin napaplantsa ang pro debut ni Marcial, kakampanya sa featherweight division.
“Sa ngayon sobrang ready na tayo kahit this week kung maaayos na ‘yung laban, lalaban ako kasi grabe ‘yung training namin dito,” wika ng tubong Zamboanga City. “As a fighter si-yempre, dapat ready tayo kung anumang laban ang ibibigay sa atin.”
Makakatulong kay Marcial sa 2021 Tokyo Games ang kanyang makukuhang eksper-yensa sa pro fights, ayon kay Gibbons.
“We haven’t really set a date for the professional fight, but we’re hoping it will be in December,” ani Gibbons. “The real key was when Eumir came here was to focus on more of the Olympics but to get the experience to have a couple of four-rounders or six-rounders under his belt.” (RCadayona)
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