Perfect practice for Paris

MANILA, Philippines — It played out like a script. Olympic qualifier Eumir Marcial treated a cheering hometown crowd to a spectacular knockout win over Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam, celebrated a sentimental homecoming and provided a preview of what to expect in Paris before a star-studded audience that included WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Saturday night.

Marcial scaled 165 pounds for the eight-round bout but disclosed that he was over 175 when the bell rang. In Paris, he’ll fight in the 80kg division after the 75kg class where he took a bronze in the Tokyo Olympics was scrapped.

Against Sinam, Marcial worked the first three rounds like an Olympic contest, firing right jabs and left straights. Marcial said in the Olympics, jabbing is critical and it’s something he wanted to practice on Sinam for three rounds which are the Olympic distance. Then, in the fourth frame, he was back in pro mode and went for the kill. Marcial stepped up his attack and after a fierce exchange, unleashed a vicious left uppercut that snapped Sinam’s head back as his legs turned rubbery. He fell on his back like a tree chopped down by an axe. Referee Danrex Tapdasan called it off as Sinam lay flat on the canvas. Ringside medical staff quickly entered the ring to administer oxygen and it took a few minutes before the Thai was propped up to sit on a stool. The official time was 1:33 of the fourth.

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said the workout was a fitting send-off for Marcial before checking in at the US Olympic camp in Colorado Springs. “The goal is gold,” said Gibbons, referring to Marcial’s Olympic dream. “Eumir’s focus will now be on Paris.” Marcial said he’ll resume training in the US and join the ABAP team in a two-week camp in Bangkok before the final Olympic qualifiers on May 23-June 3. ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said there will be a short camp and tournament in Colorado Springs next month. Marcial said after Paris, he’ll concentrate on his pro career but if there’s a chance to represent the country in the 2028 LA Olympics when he’ll be 32, he won’t turn it down.

The win over Sinam raised Marcial’s pro record to 5-0, with three KOs. It was his first home appearance since the 2019 SEA Games and the audience included POC president Mayor Bambol Tolentino, PSC chairman Richard Bachmann, Sen. Francis Tolentino and GAB chairman Atty. Richard Clarin. In other fights on the card, Hawaii-based Alejandro Meniano outpointed Dexter Eraya in a superfeatherweight sixer, unbeaten featherweight Lienard Sarcon decked China’s Peng Huang twice in the first stanza and went on to win by an eight-round unanimous decision, undefeated lightweight Jerald Into floored Jhon Gemino thrice to notch a second round stoppage, lightweight Pepito Masangkay dropped Jules Victoriano in the final frame to win via an eight-round unanimous decision and debuting bantamweight Mikko Camingawan battled Arnold Cordova to an action-packed four-round unanimous draw that drew a $500 reward for each fighter from Gibbons.