Philippines, 25 Mar 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Following in Garcia’s footsteps


PhilBoxing.com



Marcial (L) and Mindoro (R).

Ceferino Garcia remains the only Filipino ever to reign as world middleweight boxing champion and ruled from 1939 to 1940. The Biliran slugger who invented the “bolo punch” defended his title once, scoring a 13th round knockout over Glen Lee at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Dec. 23, 1939.

Since Garcia’s reign, no Filipino has come close to following in his footsteps----until now. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons is excited about Eumir Marcial and Weljon Mindoro scaling the 160-pound ladder to earn a shot at the world title.

Marcial, 29, is well-known in boxing circles as a four-time SEA Games gold medalist, Asian Games silver and bronze medalist and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist. He turned pro in 2020 but his career has been interrupted by forays back into the amateur ranks. Now, it appears Marcial is focused on the pros where his record is 5-0, with three KOs. Gibbons said Marcial is expected back in the US for training in January.

Mindoro, 24, isn’t as heralded as Marcial but he’s quickly making a name for himself. The Zamboanga del Sur bomber is training at Gibbons’ Knuckleheads gym in Las Vegas. Mindoro stands 5-11 and has a 72-inch reach. His record is 13-0-1, with 13 KOs. In May last year, Mindoro battled Takeshi Inoue to a split 12-round draw at the Okada Hotel and has since racked up three straight wins, excluding a Dubai exhibition that ended in a fourth round stoppage of Australian Joel Camilleri a few weeks ago.

A devastating puncher, Mindoro has found it difficult to find willing opponents in the US. Last July, Mexican Mahonn Montes backed out and Tyler Goodjohn was brought in as a late replacement only to be decked thrice enroute to losing by a second round knockout in Plant City, Florida. A few months later, Puerto Rican Marcos Osorio Betancourt withdrew and Brazilian substitute Lucas de Abreu was blasted into submission at 0:22 of the third round in Kissimmee, Florida. Mindoro is emerging as the Filipino version of Jake LaMotta, the Raging Bull.

“Mindoro is a big, big prospect at 160,” said Gibbons. “The guy just came over and did some incredible stuff in the US and Dubai. The three, four wins he’s had shows his development. He’s got a chance to become the first Filipino world middleweight boxing champion since Ceferino Garcia. The kid’s got a bright, bright future.”

Gibbons said Mindoro and Marcial are cut of the same mold. “They’re comparable right now because Eumir’s been out of the ring since the Paris Olympics,” he said. “I still lean with Eumir because of his experience and all the stuff he’s done in the amateurs but they’re both right there. I think they’ll be challenging for world titles in 2025 or 2026.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR JOURNALIST COLIN HART
    , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • Concio faces tough competition in Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 25 Mar 2025
  • OKC Nips LA Clippers in Late Season Struggle; Keeps League Lead, Drops Clips to 8th
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • CHUA TAKES CONTROL AT THE TOP | 2025 IFX PREMIER LEAGUE POOL
    , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • IIEE champ in billiard, PICE repeats in bowling and GEP draws 1700 runners in PTC WED
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 24 Mar 2025
  • Datamatics A are kings of Atty. Quirino Sagario Memorial Chess Team Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • Star Frisco: Fighting with Heart, Never with Fear
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION GEORGE FOREMAN
    , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • WORLD NINEBALL TOUR ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER AUGUST SWING ACROSS AMERICA
    , Sun, 23 Mar 2025
  • Do the Oddsters Know Something We Don't?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • Sebastain Fundora Makes Long Awaited Return Headlining PBC on Amazon Prime Card
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • GEORGE FOREMAN (1949–2025): THE GENTLE GIANT WHO TAUGHT US TO FIGHT WITH KINDNESS
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • Top Rank's Statement on the Passing of George Foreman
    , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • IOC Executive Board Announces Olympic-Style Boxing Will be Included on LA28 Olympic Schedule
    , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • CAPITO EXTENDS HIS LEAD AS BATTLE HEATS UP | 2025 IFX PREMIER LEAGUE POOL
    , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • ABAP severs ties with IBA
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • April 5: Abdullah Mason Steps Up Against Carlos Ornelas on Richard Torrez Jr.-Guido Vianello Card at Palms Casino Resort LIVE on ESPN+
    , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • Weights From Atlantic City
    , Sat, 22 Mar 2025
  • KAMBOSOS JR VS. WYLLIE WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • Quezon City IIEE-PSME Simba’s Tribe courtesy visit to GAB Chair Rivera
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • Oklahoma Takes NBA Overall Lead; Race for West Top 6, Play-in Still On
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • IBA congratulates newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry, expresses hope for bold reforms
    , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • Magramo clips Cuarto, bags WBC Intl plum
    , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • Magramo is new WBC International light fly champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 21 Mar 2025
  • Brian Norman Jr.: “It Won’t Be a Long Fight!”
    , Fri, 21 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.