Marcial has eyes set on the Olympic quest despite turning pro

For Tokyo-bound Eumir Marcial, the target is still the same, even after turning professional.

The former AIBA World Youth Champion still has the desire for that ultimate dream of bringing the country's first-ever Olympic gold as he graced the latest online forum of the Philippine Sportswriters' Association Tuesday, alongside MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.

Last week, Marcial signed a six year deal with the Manny Pacquiao-owned stable, as he hopes to get his build-up to his amateur swansong on the right track.

“We hope to have three fights before the Olympics,” Gibbons said, with the professional debut of the former World Championship bridesmaid at middleweight will be in line with their master plan for the world's biggest sporting spectacle. “We just want to keep in line with what he’ll be doing in Tokyo.”

Their plan was to put him in four-rounders to start, one more than the maximum three in the amateur ranks.

Marcial added he hopes that he will have to bring his training staff from the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines with him on his debut in the top-level of boxing. He believes that the shot at Olympic glory would only come once every four years.

"Yung laban sa pro, pwede pa naman i-move yan," he then said.

The Air Force-enlisted pugilist was in no rush in taking the big names after the Olympics, as he has to fight the best amateur prospects in the Japanese capital to build his credentials once he turns pro on a full time basis.

"Sobrang layo pa natin," Marcial added. "Ang dami ko pang madadaanan na mga malalakas na kalaban."

He anticipated that his rivals in the amateurs are also going to turn professional soon, including the reigning AIBA world titlist Gleb Bakshi of Russia, Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzniak and defending Olympic champ Arlen Lopez of Cuba.

With the pandemic threw off their initial plans, Gibbons hopes that they could start now in three months should the situation around the world in the coronavirus pandemic eases up.

"Hopefully we can do something in October and work from there. Three fights before he has to stop and fully concentrate on the Olympics," Gibbons added, as they hope that by April next year, Marcial will have two full months to prepare for the biggest stage in amateur boxing.

Photo: Philippine Sportswriters' Association