The think tank of Paris Olympics-bound Eumir Marcial is scheduled to hold talks with the Philippine Sports Commission leadership today in an effort to boost the boxer’s gold medal quest.
MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons, who represents Marcial, said Wednesday that a plan to hold the Filipino southpaw’s fifth professional fight is crucial in the Olympic bid.
A fight in March is in the pipleline and two ideal venues inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex — the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Coliseum — are being looked at as sites.
With green light coming from the Manny Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions, Gibbons and fellow high-ranking executive Joe Ramos are expected to discuss with PSC chairperson Richard “Dickie” Bachmann his plans for Marcial in the runup to Paris.
The Olympics is taking place from 26 July to 9 August.
So far, the hard-hitting Marcial, who took the bronze in Tokyo, is the only boxer who has made the Olympic grade.
The Philippine boxing team is bracing for the last two remaining Olympic qualifiers in Italy in February and in Thailand in June.
Apart from Marcial, the three other Paris qualifiers include gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Since entering the pro ranks in December 2020, Marcial has fought just four times, the last happening almost a year ago in San Antonio, Texas, where he beat up Argentina’s Ricardo Villalba.
After his planned March fight, Marcial will head back to the United States to resume work with Olympic coach Kay Koroma, who worked with USA Boxing.
In Paris, Marcial will campaign in the light-heavyweight class as the middleweight division was not calendared.
