Eumir Marcial back to the drawing board ahead of SEA Games stint

Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial is looking to get back to the drawing board following his second professional bout against Isiah Hart this past weekend.

Marcial, 2-0 with 1 KO as a pro, was sent crashing to the canvas thrice last Sunday in Las Vegas. He was able to beat the count then went on to stop his opponent via fourth-round technical knockout.

For the Filipino, it was an experience he can learn from heading to the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

“I need to go back to the drawing board and fix a few things and I will be back stronger. First I will return to the Philippines for a few days of rest and then I will head to Thailand to train for the Southeast Asian Games which will be held in Vietnam,” said Marcial.

“I look to take my fourth straight gold medal.  It takes hard work to do that and I promise my full commitment to the Philippines in the upcoming SEA Games.”

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, meanwhile, praised Marcial for his gritty performance against Hart.

“They say you truly don't know a man until he is knocked down, and in Eumir's case it was three times, and how they get up. Well, we found out that Eumir has a tremendous Filipino heart and his will to win emanates from it,” Gibbons said.

“I am so proud of how Eumir came back from adversity in the first few rounds and came on to stop Isiah Hart in the fourth round.  It was a great learning lesson. We will make a few changes and then move on to bigger things.”

—JMB, GMA News