Manny Pacquiao 2.0? Eumir Marcial is too busy boxing his own way – 5 things to know about the Filipino Olympic hopeful
Eumir Marcial is tipped as the ‘the next Manny Pacquiao’, but the young Filipino fighter isn’t interested in riches and prestige, choosing to stay amateur so he can represent his country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics next year
Eumir Felix Marcial is a young man who fights for what he believes in. The 24-year-old Filipino boxer has fought his way to the top and shows no signs of weakening. He is an inspiration to many around the world, but there is a lot more to Marcial than what one sees in the ring. Here are five things to know about the rising star:
He is a true gentleman
When the world looks at Eumir Marcial, they see a tough guy who’s tearing through the boxing scene. He can take the punches and still come out a winner. But there’s a way softer side to this fearsome fighter. His girlfriend, Princess Galarpe, says that he is the same kind person she has known since he was just starting out. The two have been a couple for eight years now, and though they have had their ups and downs, Galarpe says he has always been a gentleman. So much so that she recalled one time when they were low on food and he claimed he was not hungry so she could eat all they had. He has continued to keep his feet grounded in what he stands for.
He likes the snow
Eumir Marcial’s tough-guy standing also takes a hit from his childlike thrill in something many take for granted: snow. During the recent Europe vs Asia Dual Match – a historic clash of continents hosted in Prague in February – he experienced snow for the first time, since there wasn’t any in the Philippines. Marcial was so excited to see the snow coming down that he had his coach take a picture of him in the white wonder.
He chose a shot at the Olympics over going pro
Given the 35 wins, 10 knockouts, seven medals (four of them gold), and numerous championships that Marcial has won, you can imagine how many managers are knocking on his door looking for their next professional star. But the young boxer has yet to yield to any of these calls to go pro. He has held true to his desire to fight for his country in the Olympics, and it appears he may just have his chance. Walking away from the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships, hosted in Russia in September, with a silver medal, Marcial earned himself a spot in the SEA Games being held in December. The boxer no doubt hopes to add another gold to the two he already has from this competition.