Marcial falls to Chinese pug, settles for Asiad silver
2023-Oct-06 12:32
2024-Jul-15 05:44
CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE. Eumir Marcial settled for a silver medal in the 19th Asian Games after losing to Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke via unanimous decision in their men's 80-kilogram gold medal clash. PHOTO: PSC-POC Media Pool
The gold medal drought for the Philippines in Asian Games boxing continues.
Coming off back-to-back knockout victories, Eumir Marcial failed to find the right combinations to beat China's Tanglatihan Touhetaerbieke in their gold medal clash in the 19th Asiad in Hangzhou, China on Thursday night, October 5.
Absorbing a stinging unanimous decision defeat, Marcial, who fought in a heavier weight class of 80 kilograms this quadrennial meet, just fell short of becoming the first Filipino pug to win a gold since Rey Saludar in 2010.
Marcial moved from middleweight to light heavyweight as his former division got scrapped in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite doubting his ability to reach the Olympic stage again, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist still achieved such a feat.
Besides, the Philippine boxing team won't go home empty-handed, thanks to him, as fellow Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam bowed out of contention early in the competition.
Unfortunately, it didn't end the way he wanted.
Starting off strong, Marcial connected a right hook to score a standing eight count in the first round and lead the judges' scorecard, 10-9.
A taller and broader Tanglatihan regained his form in the second round to put Marcial on a standing eight count with quick combinations to level the score at 19-all.
An aggressive Marcial looked for a KO but couldn't take down Tanglatihan, and the five judges felt satisfied with the Chinese's performance.
"I feel that I had him in the third round but I have to respect the judges' decision," Marcial said in Filipino after the bout.
Undeterred by the results, Marcial already sets his sights on the Olympic Games in the French capital next year, with the goal of ruling the bulkier weight class.
"Maybe in Paris I could change the color of this medal," he told reporters.
Marcial, a four-time Southeast Asian Games champion and former world championship silver medalist, is expected to receive a million pesos incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission, as well as bonuses from the Philippine Olympic Committee and sponsors.