MARCIAL WINS FIRST PRO FIGHT AGAINST WHITFIELD BY DECISION

Tokyo Olympics bound Eumir Felix Marcial made a successful pro debut by beating tough customer Andrew Whitfield by unanimous decision in their 4-round middleweight contest at the Shrine Expo Center in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night (Thursday in the Manila)

All three judges, Don DeVerges, Ron Scott Stevens and Damian Walton, gave all the rounds to Marcial, 40-36.

There was no feeling out as soon as the fight started, both Marcial and Whitfield immediately went at each other. The heavy-handed Marcial connected with several hard lefts to the face of Whitfield but the Redding-resident showed his toughness by absorbing well Marcial's bombs. The second round transformed into a phone-booth fight with the American received most of the punishment but Marical had his share too, hit by Whitfield in the face several times as his baptism of fire in the professional ranks. Going back to his corner, Whitfield's right eye was almost shut down as a huge lump formed beneath it.

The third and fourth rounds saw Marcial, who appeared winded and probably realized that he could not take out his game American opponent, boxing from a distance but still continued to hit Whitfield with combinations. Whitfield was able to penetrate Marcial's defense in spurts as the fight drew to a close.

Marcial, from Zamboanga, notched his first pro win while Whitfield dropped to 3-2, 2KOs.