Olympian Eumir Felix Marcial quietly left the country alone Sunday morning without his trusted amateur coaches as he starts his buildup for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Marcial, 24, took the first flight out of the country last weekend on his way to Los Angeles to hook up with trainer Freddie Roach who, with the help of noted American matchmaker Sean Gibbons, agreed to take the Zamboangueño boxer under the famed boxing guru’s wings.
“Gusto ko sana na makasama si (ABAP coaching consultant) coach Don (Abnett) sa training ko sa US kaya nag-request ako sa ABAP kung pwede ko siya makasama pati si (head) coach Ronald (Chavez). Sabi naman nila ‘sige tignan natin’. Two weeks, three weeks, wala pa desisyon kaya nagdesisyon na ako na mag-isa bumiyahe sa US,” said Marcial.
The middleweight campaigner Marcial, together with lady boxer Irish Magno, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo are the country’s current qualifiers for the Olympics set July 23-August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Marcial, despite turning pro last July, emphasized that Olympics is his only priority until July of next year as it has been his childhood dream to see his father Eulalio cheer for him in an Olympic campaign.
If he could have his way, Marcial would like to the Australian coach as well as Chavez by his side.
Marcial is hoping that his decision to proceed to the United States would finally jumpstart his aim to get in shape and be ready for next year’s Olympiad.
“Malapit na yung Olympics and until now, puro virtual training lang kami sa ABAP. Bilang respeto sa kanila, naghintay lang ako ng ano ba plano nila sa akin kasi nga, qualified na ako sa Olympics at isip ko, under pa din ako ng ABAP. Halos two months na ako nag-coodinate sa kanila pero parang wala pa din plano sa akin kaya nagdesisyon na ako na mag-training sa US,” said Marcial.
