Light-heavyweight John Marvin, a member of the British Army boxing team, is arriving in the country this Saturday to apply for a slot on the Philippine squad to the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) yesterday revealed that Marvin, a 6-foot-1 puncher, has a Philippine passport and is determined to become a member of the national team, according to executive director Ed Picson.
“His mother is from Pampanga and we included his name on the SEAG lineup,” said Picson, who nonetheless made it clear that Marvin, 24, has not yet formally clinched a berth to the Aug. 19-30 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur.
“Based on what we have gathered, Marvin has good qualities and the coaching staff agree that he has the moves,” said Picson, noting that ABAP chief Ricky Vargas has already sent Marvin his airfare.
The Philippines normally fields entries in the lower weight classes and the last time a big guy was sent to compete was during the 1990s when Ernesto Coronel was still around.
The SEAG roster will not include Rio Olympians Rogen Ladon and Eumir Felix Marcial as the two and fast-rising Dannel Maamo have been awarded slots to the world championships that takes place from Aug 25 to Sept. 3 in Hamburg, Germany.
Ladon, Maamo and Marcial earned their places in Germany after figuring prominently in the Asian championships last April in Uzbekistan.