Olympian Eumir Marcial rallies past two knockdowns, claims WBC title at Thrilla in Manila anniversary

Filipino Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial had to dig deep to secure a hard-earned majority decision victory over Eddy Colmenares in the co-main event of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Marcial, who won a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, showcased sharp boxing and slick counters throughout the bout, investing heavily in body shots and crisp combinations. But despite his technical edge, he remained in constant danger against the heavy-handed Venezuelan.

Colmenares broke through in round three, dropping Marcial after a furious barrage. The Filipino regained control with disciplined pressure, but in round ten, Colmenares mounted another desperate rally, sending Marcial to the canvas for the second time. With only seconds left in the contest, Marcial weathered the storm and held on until the final bell.

One judge scored the fight 94-94, while the other two saw it 95-93 for Marcial, earning him the vacant WBC international middleweight title and improving his record to 7-0 with 4 knockouts.

Colmenares fell to 11-3-1 with 11 knockouts.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News