Despite early stoppage, Eumir Marcial believes bout against Nemochi was a close one

Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial was impressive in his Round of 16 bout against Algeria's Younes Nemochi on Thursday, scoring an early knockdown before the fight was called early as a referee stopped contest due to injury.

From Marcial's perspective, though, he believes the fight was closer than it looked.

"Dikit ‘yung laban namin. Pasok lang siya nang pasok," Marcial said after the fight.

The boxer praised his opponent Nemochi's strength and fighting spirit. "Right hook ko ang tumama sa kanya sa unang bagsak, pero sobrang tibay din ng kalaban. Ilang beses ko rin siyang tinamaan ng body shots, pero nandoon pa rin ‘yung fighting spirit niya na, lalaban talaga siya,” he said.

And with Marcial now just one win away from an Olympic medal, the boxer said he will do his best for what's ahead.

"Masaya po ako siyempre sa pagkapanalo. Hindi pa ito ‘yung last fight, marami pang fights na darating. Kasama ‘yung mga coaches ko, paghahandaan pa po namin ‘yung mga susunod na laban," he said in a statement.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas also believes Marcial will continue to get better.

“I am so happy that Marcial is back to his old form and with polished new moves, he developed in the last three months that he trained with us," Vargas said in a statement. "And I believe he will only get better because his mind and body are now fully focused."

"Also, he told us that his kababayan Hidilyn’s victory inspired and motivated him even more. Welcome back, Eumir. We pray for your continued success, in the Olympics and beyond,” added the boxing chief.

Marcial will be back in action on Sunday in the men's middleweight quarterfinals against Armenia's Arman Darchinyan.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang, JMB, GMA News