EUMIR Felix Marcial fights Thoedsak Sinam of Thailand on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila before heading to training camp for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The eight-round bout in the super-middleweight class is the main event of the 10-fight card organized and promoted by MP Promotions.
It will be the first fight of the 28-year-old Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist in the country since bagging the gold during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.
Marcial enters the ring carrying a perfect 4-0 record, while Sinam, also 28, has a personal record of 23-13, but with 19 KOs.
The Filipino tipped the scale at 165 pounds during Friday’s official weigh-in at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, while the Thai came in at a heavier weight of 168 pounds.
Marcial said he is excited to fight again before his countrymen prior to shifting his focus to the Paris Games.
“Ito yung matagal ko nang pinapangarap na makalaban dito sa Pilipinas bilang pro. Sabi ko kahit hindi main event. Pero ito ngayon main event (pa),” said the native of Zamboanga City.
“Itong laban na ito part ng preparation for the Olympics dahil after kong mag-qualify last year sa Asian Games, wala na akong exposure, wala na akong laban. So dito sa darating ko na laban, magiging tuluy-tuloy na ang preparation ko.”
The Filipino Olympian last fought as a pro in February 2023 yet when he scored a second round TKO of Ricardo Villalba at the Alamodome in San Antonio, after which he concentrated on his preparation for the Asiad.
He eventually bagged the silver medal in Hangzhou, China to clinch a berth in the Paris Games.
“Ako kahit four professional fights pa lang ako, andami ko nang na-experience sa boxing,” he said.
At the same time, Marcial said he’s not taking his Thai opponent for granted despite being the overwhelming favorite to win the match.
“Hindi ko puwedeng bale-walain siya, dahil lahat ng fighter, naghahanda. Focus lang ako na ipanalo ang laban na ito. Hindi puwedeng magkumpiyansa dahil sobrang experienced itong kalaban ko,” he said. “Alam naman natin ang mga Thai fighter, laban yang hanggang sa dulo, kaya focus lang talaga tayo.”
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