DOHA, Qatar--Matapos si light flyweight Rogen Ladon, si welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial naman ang nagposte ng panalo.
Umiskor si Marcial ng isang TKO victory laban kay Egyptian opponent Said Mohamed Walid sa 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships dito.
Nagtiyaga si Marcial na hintaying bumuka ang depensa ng second-ranked boxer ng African Confederation Championships para pakawalan ang kanyang mga left straights at body shots.
“Tinamaan din niya ako nung una kaya sabi ko kailangan ko na gumanti,” sabi ng 19-anyos na dating World Junior at Asian Youth champion.
“Mabuti na lang at tumama yong mga suntok ko,” dagdag pa ng tubong Zamboanga na si Marcial.
Susunod na makakatapat ni Marcial ay si Youba Sissokho ng Spain na nanggaling sa panalo laban kay Ardee Sailom ng Thailand.
Nauna nang tinalo ni Ladon ng Bago City si Leandro Blanc ng Argentina.
“Eumir and Rogen both need to win at least four fights here to earn a slot to the Rio Olympics next year. This is a happy start!” sabi ni ABAP executive director Ed Picson.
Ikinatuwa rin ni Picson ang pagdating ni boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
“The whole place is agog in anticipation of his visit Thursday and the organizers from Qatar and AIBA are laying out the red carpet for him. It’s going to be a hectic whistle-stop trip, but Manny said he wants to witness the new Olympic-style boxing, give moral support to our boxers and visit with the huge Filipino community here,” ani Picson.