The Gibbons household in Las Vegas sounded as though Manny Pacquiao was on television fighting Wednesday afternoon (around midnight of Tuesday in the US).
But it was already way past midnight and the guy on the smartphone was a dark-skinned puncher who didn’t resemble the eight-division fighter despite his southpaw stance.
“There’s just so much exuberance right now,” exclaimed Sean Gibbons from Sin City just moments after Eumir Marcial knocked out the grossly overmatched Syrian rival Ahmad Ghousson to earn a trip to the light-heavyweight final of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Gibbons is Marcial’s chief handler in the professional ranks and was overjoyed by the feat that likewise guaranteed the Zamboanga banger a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Marcial got the job done by landing his pet right hook, the same crippling blow that separated his Thai rival from his senses during the quarterfinal round 24 hours before the semis clash with the Middle Eastern adversary.No decision has been made as to what lies down the road for Marcial as he gets ready for Paris but one thing is certain.
“He will be back fighting in the pros,” Gibbons said, a remark Marcial himself echoed in a post-fight chat with Manila-based scribes in Hangzhou following his second-round demolition win.
Marcial just took a break from his Las Vegas camp to take part in the Asian Games and has a contractual obligation.
“He will likely fight once or twice (before the Paris Olympics),” said Gibbons, who credited Kay Koroma, the US boxing team’s esteemed coach, for Marcial’s vast improvement.
“He’s patient and picks his punches well unlike before,” Gibbons noted, adding that sparmates in Los Angeles and Las Vegas had been complaining about Marcial’s incredible power.
“They were telling me that Eumir’s punches felt as though his hands were packed with dynamite.”
Marcial actually got the job done the past two fights using his right hand, the same hand that he injured and operated on last March in the US.
Before joining the Philippine team for the Asian Games, Marcial was busy training with Koroma in Las Vegas in the hopes of fighting for the fifth time as a pro.
After the Asian Games, regardless of what happens in the gold medal match against Chinese Tanglatihan Tuoheaerieke, Marcial, who is also aligned with the Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions, will reunite with Koroma to resume his pro career and rev up as well for Paris.
In the meantime, the Gibbons residence is still in a celebratory mood.
