Eumir Marcial has proven that he is ready to sacrifice it all for the flag and his family, going all-in in his preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. 

“Lahat po iniisip ko para sa aking pamilya at aking bansa. Lahat ng sakripisyo dapat harapin ko,” said Tokyo 2020 Olympics-bound Marcial on Tuesday, December 1, during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association forum. 

(I’m doing everything for my family and my country. I should face all the sacrifices that come with it.) 

Since his arrival in Los Angeles last October, Marcial has been training at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym with Freddie Roach, who is helping him prepare for the world’s biggest multisport event despite specializing in the pros. 

Manny Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Justine Fortune has also helped Marcial get back in shape as the boxer dropped a total of 7 kilograms (kg), inching his way back to the required weight for the men’s middleweight (75 kg) event. 

“By coming here, it was giving himself a heck of a shot to prepare for Tokyo 2020,” said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons. 

This is why Marcial decided not to return to the Philippines when his eldest brother Eliver passed away after collapsing from difficulty breathing and vomiting. 

The tragedy also came days after he just arrived in the US. Although he was offered a ticket back home, returning to the country would’ve meant another tedious process of traveling.

“Lagi rin sinasabi ng kapatid ko, ‘Sana maging Olympic gold medalist ka, sana maging world champion ka.’ Kahit mahirap, mas pinili ko mag-stay dito,” shared Marcial. 

(My brother would always say, “I hope that you will become an Olympic gold medalist and world champion.” So that’s why even though it was difficult, I chose to stay.) 

Gibbons admitted that Marcial is the first amateur boxer to be handled by MP Promotions, but he remains confident that the Filipino pug is reflecting positive progress for his Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid.

The 25-year-old boxing star has been sparring with big names like former Russian-Armenian Olympian Aram Avagyan, and he also helped American pro boxer Gabriel Rosado prepare for his fight with Daniel Jacobs last November 27. 

Marcial recounted that he has had over 15 sparring sessions of four-rounders and six-rounders within a month and a half. 

“Lahat ng oras ko po, binibigay ko sa training, kumbaga alam naman natin kumuha ng gold sa Olympics, kaya wala pa tayong gold sa Olympics. May chance man tayo, mas malaki ang chance ‘pag nasa kundisyon ang katawan. Ngayon pa lang, magsipag na tayo ngayon, magtraining na tayo ngayon,” said the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.. 

(I give all my time to training because we know how difficult it is to get a gold medal in the Olympics, that’s why we don’t have a gold medal yet. We would have a greater chance if I get into condition right now. Even now, I should be pouring out everything already and training.) 

According to Gibbons, MP Promotions is trying to squeeze in Marcial’s debut as a pro boxer before the year ends, while prioritizing major amateur boxing tournaments in the Olympics-bound athlete’s schedule in 2021. – Rappler.com