Marcial best Asian youth boxer of the year

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Boxing Confederation has named PLDT-ABAP boxer Eumir Felix Marcial the “Best Asian Youth Boxer of the Year” and the Asian Youth Championships organized by ABAP last March in Subic Bay as the “Best Asian Competition for 2013”.

Marcial was cited for winning the gold medal in the 64 kg. light-welterweight in the Asian Youth Championships. Three other Filipino boxers who topped their categories in the same competition were Jade Bornea (light-flyweight), Ian Clark Bautista (flywieght) and James Palicte (lightweight). 

ASBC also predicted that since Marcial is turning 18 this year, he will be eligible to fight and will be a force to reckon with in this year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

ABAP was also commended for hosting the Youth Championships, which drew 24 countries, in Subic Bay last March. The Philippine boxing federation was praised for working hard for organizing the tournament, which projected a “friendly and smiling competition.”

ABAP president Ricky Vargas thanked the ASBC for the recognition, saying “Marcial is one of our prized discoveries from our grassroots development program and is one of those we are looking at to carry the torch for the country in future competitions.”

Vargas also shared the honor with the many people and entities who made sure the hosting in Subic was a resounding success.

“We couldn’t have pulled it off without the blessings of our chairman, Manny V. Pangilinan, and the support of those in the MVP group who pitched in – PLDT, Smart, Maynilad (which Vargas himself heads as president) and the MVP Sports Foundation. Of course, the Philippine Sports Commission also helped,” Vargas said.

Meantime, the boxer who won medals in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar last month are slated to receive their cash incentives from ABAP when they report for training next week after the Christmas break.

All 10 Filipino boxers came home with medals – three gold, four silver and three bronze.

“We’re very proud of our male and female boxers who slugged it out even under adverse conditions. We are also proud that our benefactors from PLDT, Smart and Maynilad again came through. They all chipped in for the P2M total cash incentive.

Gold medal gets P300,000, silver P200,000 and bronze P100,000. This is apart from the incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission.