LAS VEGAS – Over a year removed from a professional bout, Eumir Marcial was cautious enough not to let the opportunity slip away.
And true enough, the Olympic bronze medalist followed their game plan to the letter and was rewarded with a third-round technical knockout victory over American Bernard Joseph on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
”It was planned (to knock him out in the third round). First two rounds adjust muna, good defense, kunin yung timing, then try namin i-knock out sa third and fourth,” said Marcial after unleashing the deathly blows at the 1:55 of the third round.
Opening the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios undercard with aplomb, Marcial’s three consecutive mighty lefts sent Joseph to the canvass for the second and final time, upping his unblemished ring record to 6-0.
”More than a year bago ako nakabalik sa ring, so medyo nanibago ako. Pero dahil sa experience natin sa Olympics, nakuha natin ang panalo. Looking forward na tuloy tuloy ang panalo hanggang makuha natin ang world title,” said Marcial.
The two-time Olympian and Asian Games silver medalist has high hopes of booking another fight come October during the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila at the Araneta Coliseum. (Contributed by June Navarro)
