Eumir Marcial
PAG-IISIPAN pang mabuti ni Filipino amateur boxer Eumir Marcial kung itutuloy pa niya ang pangarap na sumabak sa Olympics o tanggapin ang alok na maging pro bago ang Tokyo Games sa susunod na taon.
Umapela na si Ricky Vargas, ang pangulo ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) , sa mga nag-aalok kay Marcial na mag-pro bago ang Olympics na huwag nang guluhin ang national boxer.
Si Marcial, na nagwagi ng gold medal sa 2020 Asia and Oceania Olympic qualifiers sa middleweight division, ay isa sa pinakamahusay na amateur boxers sa Asya matapos makalikom ng tatlong gintong medalya sa Southeast Asian Games at isang pilak sa AIBA World Championships.
Sinabi rin ni Vargas na nagsagawa siya ng two-hour video meeting kasama sina Marcial, ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson at sports psychologist Marcus Manaloto para pag-usapan ang sitwasyon ng boksingero. Nagtakda rin ito ng personal meeting kay Marcial kapag matapos na ang ipinatupad na coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown.
Idinagdag pa ng boxing chief na hindi pipigilan ng ABAP si Marcial na tuparin ang pangarap na maging professional boxer.
“We discussed many things and the conversation was light and cordial,” sabi ni Vargas. “We agreed that we would sit down and talk things face to face as soon as the current situation clears.”
“It was decided that with the present uncertainty in everyone’s lives, it would be foolhardy to make snap decisions that could impact long-range plans. Eumir gave me his word that he will wait for such face to face meeting before he makes a final decision and I know Eumir to be a man of his word.”
Suportado naman si Vargas ni boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao na pinayuhan si Marcial na ituloy ang pagsabak sa Olympics bago mag-pro.
“He has come out with the advice that Marcial think of the country first and stick to his Olympic dream,” sabi ni Vargas sa isang pahayag. “The good senator said he [Marcial] can always make the jump to professional boxing after the Olympiad and he will support Marcial then.”