Marcial stops foe, joins Ladon in next round

DOHA, Qatar – The second day of the AIBA World Boxing Championships saw the Philippines score a second win in as many outings as welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial walloped his Egyptian opponent Said Mohamed Walid, causing the referee to give the latter three standing eight-counts for a TKO victory for the Filipino.

Marcial, who is known for his power punches, took his time until he unloaded hard lefts and body blows on the second-ranked boxer from the African Confederation Championships.

“Tinamaan din niya ako nung una kaya sabi ko kailangan ko na gumanti (He actually hit me a couple of times in the early going so I said to myself I have to get back at him),” said the 19-year-old former world junior and Asian youth champion.

“Mabuti na lang at tumama yong mga suntok ko” (good thing my punches found their mark),” he added with a self-deprecating grin.

He faces Spain’s Youba Sissokho in his next fight. The Spaniard won a hard-fought match against Thailand’s Ardee Sailom.

The other Filipino boxer here – Rogen Ladon of Bago City – kicked off the Philippine campaign Tuesday with a rousing unanimous decision over Argentina’s Leandro Blanc.

“Eumir and Rogen both need to win at least four fights here to earn a slot in the Rio Olympics next year. This is a happy start,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson, who was also ecstatic upon learning that boxing icon Manny Pacquiao stayed true to his word and had boarded a plane for Doha late Wednesday.

Other members of the lean Filipino delegation are coaches Nolito Velasco and Romeo Brin.