ABAP awaits Marcial return

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is expecting Eumir Marcial to rejoin the national team immediately after his second professional bout next month.

Marcial is booked to see action on April 9 in Las Vegas and ABAP president Ed Picson said the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist promised to beef up the squad for the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi this May.

“Eumir said he will return (to the Philippines) and join the (national) pool after his fight,” Picson said.

Marcial, 26, has been training in Las Vegas since early-February under the tutelage of top trainer Jorge Capetillo and conditioning coach Memo Heredia.

In the Hanoi Games, Marcial is a cinch to defend his crown after his dominant showing in the 2019 edition in Manila.

Suiting up in the SEA Games is not the only tournament Marcial is joining this year. He is also targeting a gold medal in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September, after bringing home just a bronze in the 2018 Jakarta edition.

Fighting out of MP Promotions, Marcial feels he can fight as a pro and fight for the Philippines in the amateurs at the same time.

A gold medal — his lifelong dream — is Marcial’s mission in the 2024 Paris Olympics.