OLYMPIAN Eumir Marcial will be up against a taller American foe when he marks his ring return next month in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios welterweight title match.
Alexis Gaytan, a veteran of 27 fights, is up next for the 29-year-old Marcial as he resumes his pro career after a failed bid for a podium return during last year’s Paris Olympics.
Marcial hasn’t fought as a middleweight since scoring a fourth round stoppage of Thai Thoedsak Sinam at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in March last year as part of his warm up for the Summer Games.
Winner of a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Marcial is unbeaten in five fights so far, including 3 by KOs.
But he’s coming off a round-of-16 loss to Turabel Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the men’s 80kg division of the Paris Games, losing by unanimous decision.
Now, the Zamboanga native is looking to earn his confidence back especially fighting in the undercard of a Pacquiao title fight.
Marcial Matters
“My dream has come true. I represented the Philippines in the Olympics and won a bronze. But my real dream is to fight alongside Hall of Famer and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. On July 19, my dream is becoming a reality,” said Marcial.
Through MP and Viva Promotions, Marcial was added as part of the Pacquiao-Barrios undercard, where also set to see action are former world champions Jerwin Ancajas and Mark Magsayo, along with the Pacman’s son Jimuel Pacquiao, who is set to make his pro debut.
Marcial, Ancajas, Magsayo along with former world title challenger Jonas Sultan arrived in Los Angeles last Tuesday and immediately joined Pacquiao in his training both at the Wild Card gym and the Fortune Boxing Gym.
But the Filipino two-time Olympian will have his hands full dealing with the 30-year-old Gaytan, who sports a record 17-10, including six KOs.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
