Philippines, 27 Mar 2023
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        




 
 
News  


Second Overtime: Eumir Marcial leans on the Navarro family


PhilBoxing.com





CHICAGO -- While preparing for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Eumir Marcial is equally busy these days squealing about what he feels is the lack of support for his preparations.

With the fury of a thousand punches, he has been throwing sharp verbal jabs at the PSC and the ABAP. And the the latest installment arrived yesterday.

The middleweight boxer acknowledged receiving P43,000 a month in allowances from the PSC but he insists it's not enough.

"Kung ganyan ang supporta at mentality niyo, wag kayong maghangad ng gold sa Olympics," said Marcial who explained that the coast of team coaches, supplements, plane tickets, accommodations, etc, all amount to a small fortune.

A few days after Marcial arrived from Los Angeles last week to set up camp in his hometown of Zamboanga, he spoke to me on the phone and mentioned his pleas for help.

I walked away from that conversation with a crushed soul. I had hoped that the circumstances would change in the ensuing days.

It did. For the worse.

Look, I think highly of the PSC and the ABAP. Those organizations have done a lot of great work for our national athletes over the years.

But when it comes to conflicts such as this, I tend to err on the side of the athletes because the athlete often do not have the motive to lie while organizations are forever beholden to internal politics and vested interests.

I may be wrong here but I think the PSC and ABAP need to do much better on this case.

EVEN IF EUMIR IS ACTING LIKE A DIVA, HE HAS EARNED THAT STATUS.

He is a superstar who deserves extra special treatment. That's just how things work in sports. And lest we forget, he is our country's best hope to win an Olympic gold in this cycle of the Summer Games.

Excellence costs money, we need to pay for it. It's called an investment.

The Philippines infamously splurged P55 million for a damn cauldron during the 2019 SEA Games that we hosted. What's a few million bucks to provide Eumir with whatever he needs to pursue the highest individual achievement we as a nation have waited several lifetimes to capture?

While the tension is definitely a distraction for Eumir, I trust that he can put all this behind once he heads to Dubai for the Asian Championships beginning on May 24.

But I am comforted by the knowledge that the Navarro family has taken great care of Eumir since he landed in Zamboanga from the Wild Card gym.

"Pasalamat jud ko ni sir Junnie. Siya man akong gitawagan nga mouli ko para mag training diri. Mitando dayon siya." (I'm grateful for sir Junnie. I called him from L.A. to ask permission to use his gym and he said yes right away.)

What's in it for the Navarros?

Nothing. No hidden agenda.

"Gusto lang jud nila maka gold ko," (They just want me to win a gold medal), Marcial said, prepared to swear on a stack of bibles.


The family portrait of the Navarro family, who owns the Valientes basketball team.

Pillars of the community, the Navarros have long been supporting teams and athletes locally and nationally. The patriarch, the late Rolando Sr., was a huge backer of softball back in the day before sponsoring was fashionable.

Madame Cory, the family matriarch, has since carried the torch.

Sean Gibbons, the president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, told PhilBoxing.com he isn't worried with Eumir training away from the United States.

"He has a great set-up there and the gym the Navarros have is world-class."

The hope here is that the pit stop in his hometown will allow Eumir to recharge mentally and emotionally before he goes about with his mission in Japan.

A nations prays. May the force be with him.


The Navarro Gym in Zamboanga.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Fresno Fire: Jose Ramirez Pummels Richard Commey in 11
    , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Crowley, Azevedo win Ironman 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Edora, Suelo, Orduna rule San Manuel, Tarlac Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • SPORTSCLOPEDIA 48: MERCITO GESTA LIVES UP TO HIS NICKNAME "NO MERCY"
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Blow-By-Blow: Giemel Magramo Stops Sanchai Yotboon in 2
    , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Garin Diagan Edges Huu Toan Le, Becomes the New WBA Asia 105 Champ in Vietnam
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Magramo decisions Lino, retains title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Antonio Mireles to Take on Patrick Mailata Tonight Live on ESPN
    , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sun, 26 Mar 2023
  • Clarin inducts MinPROA Officers in Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Flash Elorde and the Araneta Coliseum: A Decade of Glorious Cooperation
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • "Bomba" vs Kenshiro Cancelled
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Benavidez vs. Plant: Marinated Beef Ready To Cook
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: David Benavidez - 166.75 Lbs., Caleb Plant - 167.25 Lbs.
    , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Gabriel “ Flash” Elorde Awards Night Continues with its 23rd Banquet of Champions
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Weigh-In Results: Jose Ramirez vs. Richard Commey & Seniesa Estrada vs. Tina Rupprecht
    , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Team Combat League Inaugural Season Second Night: Las Vegas Hustle vs. Philadelphia Smoke
    , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao unwraps Sunday, March 26
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Mar 2023
  • GABUNILAS DESTROYS HULU IN 6, CAPTURES WBO YOUTH TITLE
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • Garen Diagan, Huu Toan Le Make Weight in WBA Asia Triple Header in Vietnam
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • Pacquiao stages 4th Blow-by-Blow card
    , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • MELINDO TO DEFEND OPBF BELT IN SOUTH KOREA
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • Press Conference Notes: Jose Ramirez & Seniesa Estrada Ready for Fresno Tripleheader
    , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • Clarin inducts new PBF officers
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Mar 2023
  • DJ Zamora Embraces Tough Step-up Fight Against Jesus Ibarra this Saturday on Benavidez-Plant Card
    , Fri, 24 Mar 2023




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2023 philboxing.com.