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Philippines, 27 Apr 2024 |
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Eumir Felix Marcial Needs to Manage Pressure of Dual Role By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Wed, 21 Oct 2020  Eumir Felix Marcial had apparently shown signs of cracking under the pressure in his adopted dual role as the country's main Olympic boxing medal hope and as a promising professional debutante. Barely a few months after signing up with MP Promotions which thereafter sent him to train at Wild Card Gym under Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach for his anticipated pro debut in the US, Marcial seemed confused of how to proceed moving forward. This despite assurance from his MP Promotions principals Manny Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons that his Olympic medal quest remains the main priority and target despite his turning pro. In fact, MP Promotions has even designed his pro debut set this December to be still part of his preparations for the boxing competitions in the Tokyo Olympics which has been rescheduled for the summer of 2021. Yet Marcial reportedly balked at the inability of his former ABAP coaches to join him in his US training camp which seems to signify that he would need them aside from Freddie to prep him up for the grinds ahead. He also hinted at what he initially suspected as the withholding or withdrawal of support from the ABAP as the reason of their failure to join him in the US and the non release of his incentives as an Olympic qualifier and allowance as a national athlete. Significantly, the ABAP issued a timely statement explaining the reason why his national coaches cannot join him in the US, that is they are committed to train the entire national team per regulation. The ABAP also said it has not withheld nor withdrawn its support to Marcial despite his turning pro, explaining that it is working for funds for his ABAP incentives and his upgraded monthly allowance from the PSC as qualified Olympian As the national sports association of boxing, ABAP likewise vowed its continuous full support for Marcial in his bid to win a medal for the country in the 2021 Tokyo Games. It should be emphasized that the ABAP has nutured Marcial's substantially eventful and productive amateur career since his winning the gold as flyweight in the 2011 World Youth Championships held in Astana. His then long time ABAP principals and benefactors Manny V Pangilinan, Ricky Vargas and Ed Picson virtually served as second parents to him. 
Marcial with Roach at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood. It could be said that Marcial have just went through a wild and wooly week of transition difficulties which was even marred by the news of the sudden demise of his elder brother in Zamboanga. To Marcial's credit, he seemed to have not only seen the light but also made a renewal of his focus and commitment to make the best of his current situation. He has decided to forgo going back to the Philippines to be at his deceased sibling's wake and burial to continue concentrating on his training with Freddie. He said his presence would not be of any help to his already departed brother and he would rather that he dedicate his efforts from then on in his memory. In retrospect, it could be a blessing in disguise that these kinks have shown or showing up this early for the people behind Marcial have still ample time to iron them out. Truth to tell, Marcial can not be fully faulted despite the fact that as an athlete competing at high level since his youth, he should already be immune to pressure. For his is a unique situation. Expectations are high for him to deliver at least a podium finish in the Olympics and an impressive win or two in his initial professional run. That is too much for even the best, most seasoned boxer the country has produced in recent times. It also comes with the realization that the competition he will be meeting in Tokyo are all focused on amateur boxing and in winning medal in the Games. In fact his main rivals and former conquerors, Russian World champion Gleb Bakshi and top seeded Ukrainian Oleksander Khyzniak only have their eyes in winning the gold in Tokyo. Bakshi despite already seeded, even saw action in a recent amateur competition in Croatia in preparation for the Olympics. He however lost to the local bet in the finals. Another rival Uzbekistan's Israel Madrimov, now a rated pro fighting at super welterweight is also seen to vie for an Olympic berth in the soon to be scheduled European pre Olympics zonal qualifiers. Tursynbay Khulamet, the Kazakh fighter Marcial impressively beat on the way to the Worlds finals last year also has turned pro pending his Olympics appearance and is scheduled to have his first pro bout next month in his home country. It is also a big deal in his country but Khulamet certainly does not have the pressure that Marcial has on his shoulders right now. Hopefully, Eumir Marcial with the help of all concerned will effectively manage and deal with the mounting pressure heading to his pro debut and most especially the Olympic boxing competitions in Tokyo. For his sake and especially for the country's cause and stake in the Olympic games in Tokyo, the same site where 56 years ago, featherweight Anthony Villanueva nearly won the Philippines first gold medal. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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