One of the Christmas wishes of former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is for Eumir Felix Marcial to fight in the country before resuming his quest for an Olympic glory in Paris next year.
This was what Pacquiao told the pride of Zamboanga City in a recent meet up at the boxing icon’s residence at Forbes Park in Makati.
Marcial also got boxing tips from Pacquiao according to international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, who heads the MP Promotions with the Tokyo bronze medal winner as one of its prized fighters.
“He [Marcial] was congratulated by the Senator personally after bagging a silver medal in the Asian Games and making it to the Olympics for the second time,” Gibbons said. “The living legend Pacquiao was so excited to see him, he also gave Eumir some boxing tips.”
Marcial, who secured a berth in the Paris Games next year after advancing to the gold medal round in last month’s Asian Games Hangzhou, China, has two scheduled pro fights.
The Paris Games are scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11 next year and Pacquiao is hoping he can arrange one of Marcial’s fights in Manila preferably in February.
Marcial, who is sporting a 4-0 win-loss record with two knockouts, expressed excitement to fight in front of his hometown, saying that the last time he fought in Manila was in 2019 Philippines 30th Southeast Asian Games when he won the gold in the middleweight class.
“There are many Filipinos who like to see me fight here. I’m begging for the support of my fellow Filipinos,” said Marcial. “My training stays in the United States. I will just return to Manila two weeks before the fight if it’s officially announced.”
