THE door remains open for Eumir Marcial to compete for Team Philippines at the 20th Asian Games.
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) said the 30-year-old middleweight is back in the mix following the ninth-round TKO loss of Weljon Mindoro to Carlos Ocampo more than a week ago in Las Vegas.
Mindoro was line up as possible replacement in the 80kg weight of the Asiad for Marcial, who has a pro fight in San Diego, California against Omar Huerta on Sept. 19 - or at least two days before the boxing competitions in Nagoya, Japan kicks off.
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But Mindoro’s first pro loss proved to be a double whammy for him as under Asiad rules, boxers who had been knocked out are not allowed to fight in the ring again in the next 60 to 90 days.
Now ABAP is hoping Marcial wouldn’t get banged up in his 10-round bout against Huerta to be able to see action in the Asiad.
“He’s still in our list. We haven’t withdrawn him,” said ABAP president Marcus Jarwin Manalo at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission media center.
“So we’re hoping that he’s still going to be fit to box. Sana fresh pa rin siya. It’s not an optimal scenario, pero wala naman na kasi tayong replacement.”
Marcial, a bronze medal winner in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, must be declared physically fit to be allowed to fight in Nagoya.
“Unfortunately, we have to withdraw,” said Manalo when asked if Marcial is found unfit to fight after the Huerta match. “I don’t know kung ano ang magiging scenario kasi hindi rin technically allowed yung last-minute withdrawal. Otherwise, baka ma-sanction tayo (ABAP) and POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) ng Olympic Council of Asia.
“Kaya I told Eumir, whatever happens, naka-booking ka na from LA to Nagoya. Ngayon kung hindi ka fit to box, the medical committee will declare na you cannot continue (to fight).”
The official entry check for boxing competitions will be on Sept. 20, or a day after Marcial’s fight in the US.
“I don’t know if we can pull him out pa or if we can withdraw Eumir doon sa event. Kasi if sa entry check hindi siya cleared to box, doon pa lang hindi na siya dapat makasama sa final entry. Yun nga lang baka merong disciplinary action tayo if we do that,” said the ABAP head.
For the record, Marcial was the only Filipino boxer to win a medal in the last Asiad in Hangzhou, China, bagging the silver in the men’s light-heavyweight that also saw him clinch a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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