HANGZHOU. – After landing a smashing right hook to the jaw of Syrian Ahmad Ghousoon in the second round Wednesday, Eumir Marcial let out a big howl, raised both arms in triumph, and raced to his corner to cry on the shoulders of his coaches.
He had just won by a knockout at the 1:49 mark, got a chance to vie for a gold medal in the 19th Asian Games here and, best of all, gained the chance to see action anew in the Olympics next year in Paris, France.
A bronze medal winner in the Tokyo Olympics, the Filipino southpaw made it to the gold medal round of the men’s 80kg class by demolishing Ghousoon.
Marcial dominated Ghousoon in their semifinal bout at the Hangzhou gymnasium, twice decking the Syrian in the second round, including a left jab which set him up for a smashing right hook that served as the coup de grace in the rousing victory.
When everything was over, Marcial cried on the shoulders of coaches Ronald Chavez and Don Abnett, reality having set in — that he’s bound for another shot at the Olympics.
Boxing is among the few sports in this edition of the continental meet that serve as a qualifier for next year’s Paris Games.
He joined EJ Obiena, the country’s lone gold medalist here so far; two-time world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo, and another gymnast in Aleah Finnegan as the Filipino athletes who have qualified so far for Paris.
“Sabi ko baka hindi na para sa akin itong Olympics,” said an emotional Marcial, who initially doubted he would be able to compete in the Olympiad anew after his weight class of 75 kg was scrapped in the Paris Games.
But upon the prodding of his family, including his wife, Princess, Marcial gave it one more shot, moved up in weight, and briefly set aside his pro boxing career for the Asiad.
“Sabi niya (Princess), ‘Kaya mo ‘yan, kung may pagkakataon ka gawin mo,’” Marcial said, recalling his conversation with his wife.
Now, he’s just a win away from winning that gold. The last time the country won an Asiad gold was in 2010.
Marcia, 27, goes for the elusive mint when he battles Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan of China at 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
Tanglatihan scored a 4-1 win over Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the other semifinal bout.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, one of several Philippine officials who watched the bout, also raised his arms in triumph when the referee ended the fight, declaring Marcial the winner by knockout.
“That’s Eumir, he’s very focused and dedicated and he has trained well not only for the Asian Games but also for his Olympic qualification,” said Tolentino, one of the many people Marcial thanked in his quest for another Olympic stint, along with ABAP (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) chairman Ricky Vargas, and boxing legend and promoter Manny Pacquiao.
“Now we have a bright chance for another gold medal here and in Paris,” he said. “Eumir made us all very happy and very proud with this victory–but his job’s not over here, he still has to fight for that gold against a Chinese, and I am confident he’ll be raising our colors in the end,” Tolentino added.
