Filipino middleweight Eumir Marcial, undoubtedly the country’s brightest bet for a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, is staying put in the United States, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) leadership said yesterday.
ABAP president Ricky Vargas said Marcial initially expressed his desire to temporarily leave the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood to reunite with the national team in their training camp that begins today in Thailand.
“But Eumir said that it would be better for him to remain (in the US),” Vargas told Daily Tribune, citing that the Zamboanga southpaw is neck-deep in training under Hall of Fame strategist Freddie Roach.
Vargas didn’t object to Marcial’s request that he sticks it out with Roach as he builds up for Tokyo but asked the fighter that his chief handler Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions and the ABAP hold a dialogue to discuss pertinent matters.
Vargas points out that the ABAP needs to determine how the two parties will handle the financial aspect of Marcial’s bid.
The ABAP chief admits the boxer is now the property of the Manny Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions and the boxing body is eager to know the extent of its control over its prized puncher.
Since Marcial, 25, continues to receive benefits from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), he is still a part of the national training pool of the government.
Vargas believes a virtual meeting with Gibbons will shed light on the gray area of the partnership involving Marcial, the ABAP and MP Promotions.
Vargas said the Thai camp, which will last for six weeks, will be shouldered by the PSC although the ABAP is paying for it in the meantime since the agency has yet to release the funds.
“This (Thai training camp) is the best option so far,” Vargas said.
The crème dela crème of the men and women’s squads is going to be joined by the top coaches of the ABAP after spending weeks inside a training facility in Calamba, Laguna.
“There are restrictions and limitations so we have to go outside to get better. It is not enough if we just keep on training with each other,” he said.
Vargas swears the ABAP is going all-out in its Tokyo quest.
Aside from Marcial, also assured of an Olympic berth is Irish Magno, while waiting on the wings are Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio.
Vargas feels the Thai trip will greatly benefit the preparations of Paalam and Petecio, who are expected to be picked by the AIBA to join Tokyo owing to their respective lofty world ratings.
Marcial, meanwhile, is awaiting word if he will get the chance to fight as a professional for the second time after making his debut last year in Los Angeles.
While on standby, Marcial is busy training and sparring under Roach’s watch.
