Marcial to defend gold in Vietnam SEA Games

Olympian boxer Eumir Felix Marcial has decided to defend his middleweight gold medal at the 31^st SEA Games that open next month in Hanoi.

“That’s my commitment to the Filipino people—and the road to the Paris Olympics begins in Hanoi,” said Marcia. “I finally made a decision that I really need to compete there.”

Marcial’s name is on the list submitted for accreditation by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines to the Vietnamese organizers.

Last April 10, Marcial survived three knockdowns in scoring a fourth-round technical decision win against American Isiah Hart in Las Vegas, Nevada, to go 2-0 win-loss record in his budding pro career. He beat another American, Andrew Whitfield, in his pro debut in Los Angeles in December 2020.

“I can’t turn my back on my responsibility and commitment to the Philippine team. It’s really an honor to fight for your country,” he said. “I still need to train very hard at the amateur level to keep myself prepared for the Paris Olympics. My dedication is always there for my country.”

Marcial, who dominated the Games’ middleweight division since the 2015 Singapore edition, said he will fly to Muak Lek, Thailand, to join the national team.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons expressed full support to Marcial’s SEA Games campaign.