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| Eumir Marcial believes he won the controversial bout against Eddy Colmenares "fairly", even if some fans still think otherwise three weeks later. Viva Promotions (file photo) |
PASIG--Exactly three weeks after the now-controversial bout, Eumir Marcial insisted that he deserved to win his heated showdown against Eddy Colmenares for the WBC international middleweight title at the Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Much of the chatterbox regarding the Fight of the Night-worthy showdown was not about the match in general, but the judges' scorecards that favored Marcial despite Colmenares knocking him down twice.
Adding fuel to the fire, Colmenares, in a couple of comments on Instagram, claimed that he was "brazenly robbed" of the win.
"Fair fight naman yun. Siguro yung lahat ng mga taong nandoon na nanood, alam nila na yung laban ay dikit. Syempre napabor sa atin yung decision," Marcial told Dugout Philippines on Wednesday.
"But if titignan nila yung whole fight, alam nila na panalo ako sa score."
Marcial also said that he was not surprised that even some Filipino boxing fans raised eyebrows when veteran ring announcer Ted Lerner revealed that the now 6-0 pro boxer got the nod via majority decision, citing some cases in which the fans also cast doubts about the outcome of some of Manny Pacquiao's bouts.
"Kahit manalo o matalo, it's always that may mga negative comments yung mga tao. Andito ako sa sports industry na maraming kontrobersya," Marcial continued.
He then said that the criticisms surrounding the scores of his match against Colmenares will serve as added fuel for him to prove that he is now one of the hottest prospects at 160 pounds.
For now, though, Marcial needs to jump 16 pounds heavier as he will compete in the 80-kilogram division of the Southeast Asian Games.
The former Olympic bronze medalist, along with fellow undefeated pro Weljon Mindoro, was introduced as a member of the Philippine team to the SEA Games boxing event at Sentro 1771 Capitol Commons Branch here.
"Yung mga negative comments nila ay gagawin kong motivation para sa mga susunod na laban, lalo pang doblehin yung ensayo," Marcial said, adding that he wants to make a statement as early as the biennial event, whose boxing competitions will begin on Dec. 10.
After the SEA Games, Marcial will shift attention to a possible pro bout in March.
Although MP Promotions would mainly have a say on who Marcial will defend his WBC international middleweight belt against, he remains open to an immediate rematch with Colmenares to put all the doubts to rest.
"Kung yun yung hiling ng mga tao at bibigay sa akin ng laban, sobrang masaya ako para kung meron mang hindi nag-sangayon sa naging laban, ipro-prove natin sa next na laban," Marcial said.
Marcial is now projected among those likely to win a gold medal in the SEA Games.
