Eumir Marcial believes fights in the professional ranks will be crucial in his quest to win the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Fresh from finishing with a light-heavyweight silver medal from the Hangzhou Asian Games, Marcial said he would immediately set the stage for his fifth pro fight and possibly a sixth just before the Olympics come calling.
The Paris Games take the spotlight from 26 July to 11 August.
“I think my pro (career) helps me a lot because I get to bring my experience in the fights,” the 27-year-old southpaw added.
Marcial was the lone medal producer for the nine-man boxing team that was sent to compete in Hangzhou as Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio got eliminated early alongside the rest who spent their training camp in India and Australia.
Marcial only joined the group in Australia as he had been mainly based in the United States ever since turning professional.
Last time he fought professionally, Marcial beat Ricardo Villalba of Argentina in San Antonio, Texas, in February.
Then in March, Marcial had surgery to repair his right hand.