Marcial (L) and Mindoro (R).
Eumir Marcial and Weljon Mindoro will take a break from the pros to fight for the Philippines at the SEA Games in Bangkok next month. POC president Bambol Tolentino made it happen with MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons noting the boxers will resume their pro careers in February.
ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said Marcial will compete in the 80kg division, the same class where he represented the country at the 2023 Paris Olympics, while Mindoro will battle in the 75kg category. “Our coaching staff feels it’s easier for Weljon and Eumir to adjust to the weights in Bangkok since weigh-ins will be on the day of every fight,” said Manalo. There will be 17 gold medals at stake in boxing in the SEA Games, nine for men and eight for women. But each country is limited to enlist seven men and six women. Manalo said it’s not sure if Thailand, as host, will allow itself to exceed the limits. The weights for men are 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 69kg, 75kg and 80kg. For women, the weights are 48kg, 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg and 70kg.
“Nothing really happening (in the pros) until February so it makes sense to have Eumir and Weljon fight in the SEA Games and it’ll be great for the Philippines,” said Gibbons. “They’ll train with the national team so they won’t be back in the US until after the SEA Games.”
Marcial, 30, is a four-time SEA Games gold medalist and a 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist. His pro record is 7-0 with four KOs. Mindoro, 25, will make his SEA Games debut. He turned pro in 2019 and has compiled a 15-0-1 record, with 15 KOs, five in the first round.
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