Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial will not compete in the 20th Asian Games in Japan despite scoring a third-round knockout in his professional comeback fight in San Diego, California, on Sunday.
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) said Marcial’s quick victory was not enough to allow him to make the transition to the Asian Games, citing the short recovery period and the long journey from the United States to Nagoya.
ABAP president Marcus Manalo said he and Marcial agreed to skip the Asian Games after discussing the situation following the boxer’s victory over Mexican-American Omar Ulises Huerta.
“I spoke to Eumir right after winning his professional fight earlier. After carefully considering the situation, Eumir and I agreed that it would be better to skip the Asian Games,” Manalo said in a text message to the media.
Marcial stopped Huerta at the 1:54 mark of the third round after dropping him with a right hook. Huerta failed to beat the referee’s 10-count, ending the middleweight bout.
Marcial said he had been waiting for an opportunity to counter Huerta’s right hand after getting hit by his opponent several times in the second round.
The knockout briefly raised hopes that Marcial could still join the Philippine delegation in Japan.
Marcial himself said he remained ready to compete, noting that the professional bout lasted only three rounds.
“Ready pa ako. Three rounds lang ‘yun, so parang lumaban lang ako sa amateur. I think ready pa naman ‘yung katawan ko (I’m still ready. It was just three rounds, so it’s just like I fought in the amateurs. I think my body is still ready),” Marcial said in an interview with United States-based sports photographer Jhay Otamias.
Manalo confirmed that Marcial was eager to represent the Philippines again but said the circumstances made the transition too difficult.
There is no direct flight from San Diego to Nagoya, requiring Marcial to take a connecting flight lasting about 15 to 16 hours. The trip would also involve a 16-hour time difference and leave only about three days between his professional fight and the Asian Games competition.
Manalo said the short recovery period could compromise Marcial’s health and safety given the physical demands of boxing.
“It would be very hard for him to immediately transition from a professional fight in the US into long-distance travel to Nagoya with a 16-hour time difference, and then into another high-level boxing competition with such a short recovery period,” Manalo said.
He added that adequate rest and recovery were particularly important in a physically demanding and inherently risky sport.
Manalo said Marcial had been “very much looking forward to the opportunity to represent the flag once again,” making the decision difficult for both the boxer and the association.
He said representing the country also involved making decisions that protect athletes and support their long-term careers.
Marcial’s withdrawal leaves the Philippines without a boxer in the men’s 80-kilogram division after Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Weljon Mindoro, who was supposed to serve as the alternate, was also not cleared following a knockout loss to Mexican Carlos Ocampo in California on Aug. 30.
The Philippine Olympic Committee is facing possible sanctions from the Olympic Council of Asia following the late withdrawal ahead of the Asian Games draw on Sunday.
Marcial, however, is expected to return to competition at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Dec. 11 to 21.
Comments