Eumir Marcial — one of the Philippines’ premier boxing talents — is set to make his long-awaited return to the ring on July 19, sharing the spotlight with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao as part of the undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sean Gibbons, international matchmaker and president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, confirmed that the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist will face American Alexis Gaytan in an eight-round middleweight non-title bout on the same night as Pacquiao’s highly anticipated comeback.
“Ever since I started boxing, I was inspired by Manny Pacquiao,” said Marcial. “As a kid, I would watch him fight on TV, and it became my dream to one day fight alongside him. That dream is now coming true.”
Marcial arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday, joining fellow former world champions Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, and Jonas Sultan to train with Pacquiao in preparation for the main event bout against Mexico’s WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
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“My dream has come true,” Marcial added. “I’ve proudly represented the Philippines in the Olympics and won a bronze medal, but this — fighting alongside the Hall of Famer and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao — is something truly special. On July 19, that dream becomes reality.”
Marcial holds a flawless 5-0 professional record. His last fight took place in March 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, where he scored a fourth-round knockout against Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam in front of a roaring home crowd.
Pacquiao, now 46, is currently training with Marcial at the Wild Card Gym and various parks around Los Angeles. He reiterated his commitment to nurturing Filipino boxing talent through his promotional company.
“When I started MP Promotions, I wanted to give Filipino boxers the platform I never had early in my career,” Pacquiao said. “I’m very happy that Eumir Marcial is fighting under my banner. I will do everything I can to help him and other Filipino fighters realize their dreams of becoming world champions.”
Marcial’s sixth professional bout against the 30-year-old Gaytan (17 wins, 10 losses, 6 KOs) is expected to be a stern test, especially after a 16-month hiatus from pro boxing due to his extended preparation and participation in last year’s Paris Olympics.
