By WAYLON GALVEZ
One of the aspects that Eumir Marcial was able to improve on after his stint in the United States as a pro is his punching power.
Gerson Nietes, a member of the national boxing team coaching staff, made this revelation Sunday.
“Mas nadagdagan ang power niya, ito ang talagang napansin ko sa kanya,” said Nietes. “Gaya yan kasi ng mas malalakas din ang ka-sparring niya sa US.”
“Medyo mas ma-kapal ang gloves sa amateur, pero nagagawa pa din niya na makapagpabagsak ng kalakaban. May lakas naman noon pa ang suntok ni Eumir, pero mas lumakas pa lalo ngayon.”
Since he joined the coaching staff of the national team in 2014 after his years as an amateur athlete, Nietes has seen the progress of Marcial from being a prospect up to the time he finally earned a spot in the Olympics through a qualifying tournament in Jordan.
Marcial decided to turn professional when he signed a deal with the MP Promotions of boxing legend and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
He arrived in the US last October 2020 and trained under Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California. In his first fight as a pro last December 16, he earned a unanimous decision victory against American Andrew Whitfield at the Microsoft Theater in L.A.
Marcial returned from the US last April 20, and has been training in his home province in Zamboanga City with Nietes, a cousin of boxing champion Donnie Nietes, at the Zamboanga Valientes Boxing Gym of Junie Navarro.
Marcial is preparing for the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships on May 23 to June 1 in Dubai, a tune up meet prior to the Games in Japan. He is set to leave for Dubai on May 21.
Aside from Marcial, the other Tokyo Olympics-bound boxers seeing action in the ASBC tournament are Irish Magno and Nesthy Petecio for the women’s division, and Carlo Paalam in the men’s category.
