MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Olympics-bound Eumir Marcial begins his professional boxing career with a four-round bout against American Andrew Whitfield
Eumir Marcial is in high spirits as he entered the Mariott Hotel bubble on Sunday, December 13 (Monday, December 14 Manila time) for the Premier Boxing Champions’ fight card on December 16 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
In a video posted on his Youtube channel, Marcial was shown being administered the swab test with MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions president Sean Gibbons before they were led to their respective rooms.
They were accompanied by assistant trainer Marvin Somodio, who will monitor Marcial’s diet and light training before the official weigh-in on Tuesday for his four-round pro debut against American Andrew Whitfield, who holds a 3-1 win-loss (2 knockouts) record.
After having a partner play with International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas and shadow boxing at his room on Saturday night, Marcial is just 3 pounds over the 160 pounds limit and should have no trouble getting cleared to test his mettle against the 29-year-old Whitfield of Lewiston, Idaho.
Before proceeding to the bubble, Marcial got his hair cut by former world title contender Jonas Sultan, who also did partner play with him on Friday.
Gibbons and Somodio will join Marcial during the weigh-in.
Renowned coach Freddie Roach will man Marcial’s corner on fight night, hoping the two-month training they did at his Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood will open up the road to the Zamboangueño’s journey toward the Tokyo Olympics set next year.
Ever humble, Marcial didn’t promise a knockout victory over Whitfield to his subscribers and fellow Filipinos.
“I will do everything to win,” said Marcial, who is in prime form and is ready to unleash the new techniques he learned from Roach and the faster, stronger punches he developed under strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune.
If Marcial wins, Gibbons intends to put him in 1 or 2 more bouts against better opposition. – Rappler.com
