Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12) – Ahead of Eumir Marcial’s professional boxing debut on December 17, the Philippine Sports Commission said the boxer from Zamboanga is still classified as an amateur.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez said Marcial has yet to secure a professional license from the Games and Amusements Board.
“Marcial has to work with PSC to [obtain] the contract,” said Ramirez during his year-end report on Friday.
But regardless of the professional license, Ramirez said PSC will support Marcial’s decisions on his boxing career.
He also urged the 25-year-old boxer to apologize to the national boxing governing body Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines over his actions of going ahead to the United States in October to prepare for his professional debut.
“I fully understand the excitement of Marcial to meet (boxing trainer Freddie) Roach. There are things that are not clear with us, we respect him, and we support him,” Ramirez said.
The Tokyo Olympics-bound Marcial left the country alone to train under Roach for his foray into the professional scene. He said ABAP did not respond to his request to let him be accompanied by national team consultant Don Abnett and head coach Ronald Chavez.
When promoter MP Promotions announced his pro debut against Andrew Whitfield on Tuesday, Marcial said the Tokyo Olympics is still his top priority and his upcoming fight will prepare him for the quadrennial meet.
“Turning professional is an important step in my journey to the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. A lot of the fighters I may face in the Olympics have already turned pro so my professional training with Freddie will keep me at their level of experience when we battle in the Olympics,” said Marcial, who also struck gold in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
