AHEAD of the Southeast Asian Games, Eumir Felix Marcial looks to notch his second professional victory in the US.
Marcial arrived on Tuesday in Los Angeles to start straining camp for a bout against a yet to be announced opponent in April, and plans to rejoin the Philippine boxing team for the Hanoi SEA Games in May.
The Olympic middleweight bronze medalist topped the competition in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEAG and 2019 SEAG in Manila.
“Finally, I can now fully focus on my training. I was told to prepare for a scheduled outing. I need to be in excellent shape because I want to get back in the ring soon and also make myself available for the national team by May,” said Marcial.
The 26-year-old Marcial will train under Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio and decorated amateur boxer Roberto Jalnaiz, a US-based former Asian Games and SEA Games champion who is the uncle of Marcial’s wife, Princess.
Eumir Marcial won by unanimous decision over Andrew Whitfield in his pro debut in 2020.
Marcial will move to Las Vegas to join conditioning coach Angel Memo Heredia by mid-February.
“I thank Sir Sean (Gibbons, MP Promotions President) and Senator Manny (Pacquiao) for making sure I get the best possible team here in the US. I know a lot of great things that coach Memo has done that’s why it excites me a lot that I will also be under Memo’s program,” said Marcial.
Marcial, a native of Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, signed a multi-year contract with Pacquiao’s MP Promotions in July 2020 then made his pro debut in December of the same year, beating American Andrew Whitfield in a four-round battle in Los Angeles.