MANILA, Philippines — Of the four boxers who will represent the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics, only Eumir Marcial will see action in the Asian Boxing Championships set May 21 to June 1 in Dubai.
“Ako lang po Olympian (Olympic-bound) na sasama dun,” said Marcial in yesterday’s Power & Play program on One PH.
Aside from Marcial, who trained six months in Los Angeles, the others who have secured slots to Tokyo are Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.
The three are training in Thailand together with those preparing for the Hanoi SEA Games in November.
Ed Picson, secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, said the ABAP coaches decided against sending Magno, Petecio and Paalam to Dubai.
“The reason is that they plan to go back to Thailand after Dubai for more training. if they do, they will have to quarantine again and that will set them back,” said Picson.
Competing with Marcial in Dubai is Junmilardo Ogayre, who is in Baguio City.
The Asian Championships was originally set in New Delhi, India, where COVID-19 cases are in record numbers.