HANGZHOU – With a short, crunching right hook, pro boxer Eumir Marcial landed in the final of the 80kg division at the 19th Asian Games and punched a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Then the tears began to flow.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng naniwala sa akin na kaya ko pa mag-Olympics,” said Marcial in between sobs yesterday, moments after he scored yet another sensational knockout here.
Marcial rattled off the names of those who pushed him to pursue another stint at the Olympics and go for the gold here, and at times broke down in front of the cameras.
The 27-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the 75kg class of the Tokyo Olympics, faced a stocky fighter from Syria, Ahmad Ghousoon, in the semis at the jampacked Hangzhou Gymnasium.
Up next for Marcial tonight is a Chinese boxer with perhaps the longest name of all – Tuohetaerbieke Tangltihan.
The fight against the Syrian seemed even at the start.
Marcial won the nod of three out of five judges in the opening round. Then in the second, the fight was halted barely 30 seconds into it after Marcial floored his opponent with what seemed to be a low blow.
The referee gave the Syrian some time to recover. Then the action resumed, and at the 1:49 mark, they traded strong punches. After Marcial missed with a left straight, he threw his vaunted right hook.
Almost simultaneously, Ghousoon landed his own right hook. But Marcial’s proved to be the heavier one, sending the fighter wearing red down on the canvas. It was clear that he wouldn’t continue.
“Kasi nung una pa lang nakita ko iniinda na niya yung mga suntok ko kaya sabi ko dahan-dahanin ko lang,” said Marcial, now guaranteed of at least a silver medal after winning the bronze in 2018 in Indonesia.
There’s money that comes along as well. Under the law, he now stands to receive at least P1 million from the Philippine Sports Commission. If he wins the gold, it becomes P3 million.
But for now, it’s the gold here in Hangzhou, quite rare for Team Philippines, and the ticket to the Paris Olympics that really matter for the boxer who fights under the Manny Pacquiao Promotions.
He thanked the boxing icon and former senator for pushing him to succeed, whether in the pro or amateur ranks. He showed reporters a tattoo in his right arm – the face of Pacquiao.
The small group of Filipinos inside the gymnasium erupted in celebration, including Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and his predecessor, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines chairman Ricky Vargas.
Marcial’s victory should be music to the ears of the rest of the Philippine delegation, including those still vying for medals, and add to the country’s small collection of one gold, one silver and nine bronze medals.
And for Marcial, the battle isn’t over.
Marcial, who scored a similar second-round knockout against 6-foot-1 Thai Jongjoho Weerapon in the quarterfinals, will have just over 24 hours before he climbs the ring and vie for the gold.
Tangltihan, 26, silver medalist in the World Championships last May, scored a 4-1 win against Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the other half of the semis.
The Chinese light-heavyweight is well-loved by the hometown crowd, and is being cheered on when on top of the ring like he’s Rocky Balboa.
“Gagawin ko po lahat para makuha ‘yung gold,” said Marcial.