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Eumir Felix Marcial, who was heading to the TOKYO Olympics, was calculating and collected in his professional debut, crushing American Andrew Whitfield for a unanimous decision victory Thursday in the Premier Boxing Champions promotion at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles. , California.
There were no knockdowns on the four-round card, but Marcial had a feast on his jabs, fastballs and hooks to Whitfield’s head and body.
Whitfield bravely absorbed everything Marcial unleashed and went home with an ugly mouse in his right eye, not to mention a deflated ego as he became Marcial’s first prey on his way to donning the harness for the Tokyo Olympics in July. of the next year.
“I tried to knock him out before, but he was tough. I stalked him most of the time and hit him with those mighty blows, “Marcial told BusinessMirror through a call abroad. “Despite his puffy face, he didn’t give up.”
It was Marcial’s first fight in nine months since the Olympic qualifying tournament in Ammam, Jordan, in March. But he had every confidence and support not to let the Philippines down with Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and Marvin Somodio working his corner.
Marcial, 25, obtained favorable scores of 40-36 from American judges Don DeVerges, Ron Rabinowitz and Damian Walton.
MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons said Marcial took his pro debut pretty well and should be proud of himself.
“He [Whitfield] took toughness to another level. But it was a good experience for Eumir, a good experience on the way to Tokyo, “said Gibbons, adding that Marcial received a certificate of good health from the doctors who examined him after the fight.
Marcial threw 310 punches and landed 120, while Whitfield threw 273 and hit his target only 46 times.
He said his right hand got a bit sore in the fourth round when he tried to knock out his 29-year-old opponent who entered the ring armed with 40 mixed martial arts fights.
“My hand [middle knuckle] He got a little sore that Whitfield just wasn’t coming down. But my hand will be fine, ”said the Zamboanga City fighter, who sent his opponent staggering to a 3-2 win-loss record with two knockouts.
Marcial admitted that he received the first punch of the fight as he tried to adjust to his lighter red, white and blue gloves that bore his name.
“I felt his punch in the first round because the gloves of the professionals are lighter [10 oz] compared to the hobbyist [12 oz], “he said.” I was prepared because we heard that you knew about the fight for three months. “
“But at least I didn’t face an opponent who will take a hit and be knocked out,” he added.
Gibbons, who was also in the corner of the Filipino in the fight organized in a bubble environment, said that Marcial will take the next two weeks off for the holidays and will return to training on January 5.
“We will spend Christmas, we will go to places like the Grand Canyons and then we will go back to training,” Gibbons said. “It was a great evaluation, a great evening. Eumir had four rounds as a professional and now we are back to focus on the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. “
Marcial entered the ring wearing a red-white-blue-gold suit specially designed for him by Rey Mark Galarpe, the brother of his fiancee, Princess Jenniel Galarpe. His boxer shorts sported the logos of the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Air Force, and MP Promotions with a golden image of the sun.
