Eumir Marcial is more than welcome to rejoin the ranks of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) in the event he is tapped to represent the country in a major tournament overseas next year.
“No problem with that,” said ABAP secretary general Ed Picson, who didn’t mince words in labeling the iron-fisted middleweight as the top hopeful for a boxing gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Marcial is in the thick of training in Los Angeles under Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in preparation for his professional debut on the 16th or 26th of December in Los Angeles.
During last Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Marcial expressed his willingness to suit up for the national team as a part of his buildup for the Tokyo Games scheduled 23 July to 9 August.
“The ABAP is behind Marcial’s quest for the Olympic gold medal,” added Picson.
Marcial left Manila last October after signing a promotional contract with MP Promotions, the outfit owned by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and operated by American dealmaker Sean Gibbons.
Aside from Marcial, the ABAP has also punched in one qualifier in Irish Magno, who secured her berth last March during the Asia-Oceania qualifier in Amman, Jordan that Marcial won handily.
Plans to send not just the national boxers but other athletes revving up for Tokyo to a training facility in Calamba, Laguna, is already in the pipeline.
Picson said the boxers and coaches who have gone home to their respective provinces have been notified and told to get ready to return to Manila.
