With the 80 kilogram field missing just eight entries, Eumir Marcial already has an idea what to expect when he begins his bold bid to win the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
There will be a total of 18 fighters in the 80 kg. (light-heavyweight) bracket and among those who have secured spots include Cuban super champion Arlen Lopez as well as two former tormentors: Ukrainian Oleksandr Khyzhniak and Chinese Toqtarbek Tanatqan.
“The field is very strong,” Marcial said from his Las Vegas training camp where he is in the final stage of his buildup for his fifth professional fight versus Thoedsak Sinam of Thailand on 23 March at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
For one, Lopez won gold in the 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2021 (Tokyo) Olympics apart from being the 2015 Doha world championships topnotcher and Pan American champion in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
Like the Filipino southpaw, Lopez has fought in the pro ranks, having won his two bouts by knockout in Mexico.
And this is the reason why Marcial is making the most out of his stint at the DLX Gym by sparring with a bevy of boxers and getting pointers from the resident coaches.
“You have to be open to their suggestions,” Marcial said as he gets ready to fly back to Manila.
Assisting Marcial in his training needs is former national teammate Mario Fernandez, who reports to head coach Kay Koroma.
“Coach Kay was willing to join me in Manila but when the fight was moved to March 23rd, the plans changed because there’s a guy in the gym preparing for a big fight at round the same time I will be fighting,” Marcial said.
However, Koroma is tapping another trainer to join Marcial in Manila to ensure that the gameplan is followed to the letter.
Marcial secured a spot in Paris after his runner-up finish in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games where he was beaten by Tanatqan for the gold.
His Manila fight that will serve as a homecoming is being presented by MP Promotions and Viva Promotions and will be offered free to the public.
Aside from Marcial, Lopez, Kyzhniak and Tanatqan, also guaranteed slots to Paris are Italy’s Salvatorre Cavallaro, Croatia’s Gabriel Veocic, Azerbaijan’s Murad Allahverdiyev, Egypt’s Abdelrahman Oraby, Brazil’s Wanderley Perreira and Australia’s Callum Peters.
The eight latecomers will come from the ongoing first Olympic qualifying in Italy (four slots), second Olympic qualifying in Thailand in May-June (three berths) and the final ticket will be a universality place.
After his fifth pro bout, Marcial plans to join the Philippine team during its stint at Colorado Springs in April.
“It’s going to be a camp and a mini-tournament is also being held,” Marcial added.
