FILIPINO boxer Eumir Marcial has secured his slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first from the Philippines to do so.
However, Marcial faces the challenge of limited high-level tournaments in his preparation for a shot at Olympic gold.
With the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines occupied with securing slots for other boxers, Marcial is considering a professional bout to sharpen his skills before the Olympics in August.
“’Yan talaga ang plano, laban muna ng isang pro para mas maganda kondisyon sa Paris,” said Marcial during a recent workout with his national teammates at ABAP.
Having received P500,000 in cash incentives from the Philippine Olympic Committee, Marcial remains highly motivated, seeking to improve his bronze-medal finish from the previous Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Under Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions since 2020, Marcial transitioned to the men’s 80-kg category, earning his Paris slot with a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Marcial is eager at the prospect of competing alongside his idol Pacquiao in the Olympics, should the former world champion secure a slot via the universality rule.
“Mas maganda talaga kung makakalaro at makakasama namin si boss Manny sa team. Malaking inspirasyon para sa amin kung makakalaro siya,” said Marcial, who is a 4-0 as a pro.
The Philippines will participate in two world boxing qualifiers scheduled for February in Italy and May in Bangkok, Thailand, to secure additional Olympic slots for other Filipino boxers.