Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial punches off his professional boxing journey into the Paris Olympics as he wins in the recently held 19th Asian Games Finals.
Giving hope as the lone Filipino boxer to represent the country, Marcial was the only middleweight prizefighter for Team Philippines following the unfavorable results for Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam in their divisions.
During the Pinoy boxer’s intense match with Syrian boxer Ahmad Ghousoon, Marcial knocked out his opponent in the second round of the 80kg semi-finals.
According to an interview with a local news outlet, Marcial knew that his strategy during the boxing match was just right for him to win after noticing that Ghousoon was already in pain in the previous round.
Hence, the Filipino boxer still disclosed that he was in doubt about his skills before the match, as this will also determine whether he will be qualified for the Paris Olympics next year. Moreover, he mentioned how the removal of his division from the Olympics somehow discouraged him from pursuing the competition.
In the same interview, Marcial shared that his wife was his biggest motivation to pursue and motivation during the boxing match. “I thought the Olympics weren’t for me anymore, but people continue to believe in me, telling me to forge ahead, especially my wife,” he said.
Marcial’s win recorded another silver medal for the Philippines during the 19th Asian Games and made her the next Filipino athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024, following EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, and Aleah Finnegan. Furthermore, this was his second time participating in the Olympics after winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
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