Eumir Marcial found a heavyweight backer in the Philippine Sports Commission after it approved the request of the Paris Olympics-bound puncher to use the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila as the venue for his crucial fifth professional fight in March.
PSC chairperson Richard “Dickie” Bachmann, who was celebrating his 55th birthday, was on hand to welcome Marcial and his promotional team led by MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons and chief executive officer Joe Ramos at the PSC on Thursday morning.
Gibbons said the target date is 16 March with the Ninoy Aquino Stadium as site of the slugfest that MP Promotions, VIVA Promotions and Knuckleheads Promotion are jointly staging in close coordination with the PSC.
“It was a great honor and privilege to meet the chairman especially on his birthday and the PSC was very receptive and they all loved Eumir’s road to Paris,” Gibbons said after being given a tour of the facilities following the meeting with Bachmann and commissioner Fritz Gaston.
Marcial is the only Filipino boxer so far who has made the Olympic grade although the Philippines has also qualified two gymnasts — Carlos Yulo and Filipino-American Aleah Finnegan — and Italy-based pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Unlike the 28-year-old Marcial, who bagged the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, key members of the Philippine national team, including Tokyo silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, have yet to book Paris tickets and are looking at qualifying in Italy next month or in Thailand in June.
Last time he fought as a pro, Marcial halted Argentine Ricardo Villalba in San Antonio, Texas, to run his record to 4-0 with two knockouts.
Last October, Marcial wound up with the silver medal after losing to Chinese bet Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke during the light-heavyweight final of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The runner-up finish was enough for him to earn a trip to the Olympics scheduled 26 July to 11 August.
Ramos, a member of Manny Pacquiao’s inner circle like Gibbons, said the Marcial-bannered slugfest will be free to the public.
To get ready for his fifth pro assignment, Marcial will set up camp in the United States, under renowned US Olympic coach Kay Koroma, starting next week.
This will be the first time Marcial will see action before adoring Filipino fight fans as his three pro matches were held in Los Angeles, Carson and Las Vegas.
“Everyone’s excited and thrilled to kick off Eumir’s march to Paris,” Gibbons added.
