BANGKOK. – Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial is confident heading into his fifth appearance in the Southeast Asian Games, despite competing in a different weight class for the first time in the regional meet.
The four-time SEA Games gold medalist on Monday said he is looking forward to slugging it out in the men’s 80kg division.
Marcial competed in the same weight class during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Dito sa SEA Games, talagang okay naman ako dito sa weight class ko na ito. Mostly sa mga katimbang ko di naman nagkakalayo ‘yung weight class namin, ‘yung height namin. So, kampante naman ako,” he said.
Marcial said he’s looking forward to returning to the regional showcase after skipping the 2023 edition in Cambodia due to a hand surgery.
But he admitted the high expectations because he is a professional boxer, an Olympic bronze medalist and four-time SEA Games gold medalist.
“Medyo may konting pressure pero masaya po ako at excited po ako ulit na mag-represent po ako ulit [ng bansa natin] dito. Always ko sinasabi na isang karangalan na makapag-represent ulit sa bansa natin” he said.
Marcial also explained why he heeded the call for the SEA Games despite focusing on his professional career.
“After ng laban ko sa Thrilla in Manila last October, siguro ‘yung laban ko sa professional by March pa siguro. So, five months na layover, malaking kawalan yun para sa akin dahil for sure baka tataba ako, mawala ‘yung condition ko kaya tinake ko din tong opportunity na lumaban dito sa SEA Games para tuloy-tuloy ‘yung preparation ko,” he said.
He underscored the importance of the national team’s training camp in Thailand a week before the SEA Games.
“Malaking bagay po yun dahil, di ba galing po ako sa professional fight ko? So kumbaga ‘yung transition ulit ng laban, iba na naman. Kasi galing ako sa 10 rounds fight tapos ngayon ‘yung paghahandaan namin sa 3 rounds lang. So medyo kailangan ko talagang mag-adjust kaagad,” he said.
Marcial said his toughest opponent is from host country Thailand.
The boxers will find out who they will be facing first after the draw takes place later Tuesday.
