Marcial close to signing deal

MANILA, Philippines — Olympic middleweight boxing qualifier Eumir Marcial will meet with ABAP president Ricky Vargas and secretary-general Ed Picson next week, hoping to conclude a protracted negotiation for a pro contract.

Picson said yesterday Marcial phoned and wants to show a copy of a contract submitted by MP Promotions during the meeting. “It’s out of respect,” said Picson. “I think Eumir has reviewed the contract, made some adjustments and agreed to terms. Eumir also spoke with our sports psychologist Marcus Manalo. We’ll explain to Eumir that once he signs a pro contract, he will no longer be eligible to receive a monthly allowance from PSC. As a pro, he’ll be under GAB, not PSC.”

Picson consulted PSC deputy executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy on Marcial’s status when he turns pro despite staying the course as an Olympic qualifier.  “Atty. Iroy confirmed that as a pro, Eumir will be under GAB’s jurisdiction,” said Picson. “In Charly Suarez’ case, he no longer received a monthly allowance from PSC after leaving ABAP. But when he rejoined ABAP to fight in the SEA Games last year, we asked PSC if he could be reinstated and the Board approved. So from September up to December last year, Charly was given a monthly allowance by PSC. He was also entitled to incentives from government for winning the gold medal in the SEA Games. But starting January this year, he was again dropped from the PSC rolls to continue his pro career.”

Picson said Marcial’s military status will be reviewed when he turns pro. “Right now, Eumir’s on the active list of the Air Force so he receives a monthly salary,” he said. “When he turns pro, I think he’ll be on the reserve list like world champions Manny Pacquiao and Jerwin Ancajas. Eumir’s priority is to represent our country in the Tokyo Olympics. He feels he’ll be stronger and more competitive if he does a few pro fights before Tokyo. I just don’t know if it will be for four or six or eight rounds and where he’ll train. Eumir confided that his father’s getting old and one of his dreams is for his father to watch him fight in the pros.”

New York boxing manager Shelly Finkel, who was in contention to handle Marcial’s career, recently withdrew his offer. “I believe a lot in Eumir and still do but it was too complicated for me,” said Finkel in a message to The STAR. “Hopefully, in the future, there will be an opportunity to help Eumir but at this time, it is better this way.” Finkel assured that if ever Marcial asks for his advice, “the lines are open.”

Finkel was in contact with Vargas and Picson while negotiating with Marcial. Former Olympians whom Finkel guided to become world champions in the pros included Mark Breland, Evander Holyfield and Deontay Wilder. He was Pacquiao’s manager for five fights from 2005 to 2007 and worked out his first-ever pay-per-view fight. The two-time Manager of the Year awardee of the Boxing Writers Association of America was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010.

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said things are heading in the right direction. “Over the last few days, I’ve been working on fights in Las Vegas,” he said. “On Monday, I’ll crank it back up again with Eumir.”