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| Eumir Marcial is preparing for his WBC international middleweight title defense against Omar Huerta. |
MANILA—All of a sudden, Eumir Marcial's availability for the Asian Games is now questionable.
Viva Promotions chief Sean Gibbons confirmed that Marcial will fight at the Pechanga Arena in Temecula, California on Sept. 20 (Philippine Time) against Omar Huerta.
Marcial, boasting a 7-0 record as a pro, will defend his WBC international welterweight title against Huerta, a knockout artist who finished his opponents 13 times out of 15 victories against one loss and one draw.
“I am going for 8-0 on September (20), and I will make everyone know who I am inside the ring. This is the fight that I am longing for, a fight that will head me toward the promised land by next year,” the 30-year-old Zamboangueño boxing star said.
The match is part of a nationally televised fight card in the United States headlined by the WBC super lightweight title bout between Isaac Cruz and Nestor Bravo.
“This is going to be the most important fight in his eighth professional career bout as he was never seen in USA television before. Everybody will be watching him closely so he must look absolutely good. It is going to be a big moment,” Gibbons said.
He added that a win would assure Marcial another fight in December, which will serve as a tune-up for a potential world title bout next year.
However, the date of the pro fight comes one day before the start of the Asian Games boxing tournament at the Nishio City General Gymnasium in Japan.
While the men's 80-kilogram division battles will only start on Sept. 23, flying from Temecula to Nishio on a three-day notice could pose concerns match fitness-wise.
For one, Marcial has to cut his weight to 160 pounds for his bout against Huerta, but he has to go back up to 176 for the Asian Games event.
Also, fighting in three-round Olympic-style matches a few days after being in a 10-round pro bout would mean only a short time to recalibrate.
Reynaldo Galido, Marcial's current coach, is aware of the situation and said that they will make a final decision on his prized ward's availability right after he is done with Huerta.
“If maganda ang kalalabasan ng laro namin, hahabol kami, pero kung medyo madugo, ‘di na kami lalaro, kasi matibay din ang kalaban namin at medyo alanganin na rin sa araw kasi 23 ang start ng laro,” said Galido, a teammate of Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Marcial won a silver during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, making him among those likely to earn medals in the upcoming edition.
However, if Marcial rules himself out, Weljon Mindoro is on standby to take over his place.
