Eumir Marcial had been away from home since October, making the decision to train at Wild Card Gym for both his pro debut and the Tokyo Olympics.
But instead of heading to Thailand to join the rest of Team Pilipinas’ pugs, he instead went back home to Zamboanga last month.
Though his decision was questioned by some, the 25-year-old said that it was a much-needed fresh air for him heading into the Games this July.
“Unang-una, yung reason ko talaga na bumalik ako ay para makita yung magulang ko. Hindi ako nakauwi nung namatay kapatid ko at nagpatuloy ako sa laban ko.
“Christmas at Bagong Taon, hindi ako umuwi. Nandun lang po ako kasi gusto ko talaga makuha yung experience bago ang Olympics. Sa loob ng seven months, alam ko nakuha ko na yung kailangan ko dun,” Marcial, clearly still mourning the death of his brother Eliver last October, told Power & Play.
In Zamboanga, Eumir has never left the side of his wife Princess and his parents Eulalio and Carmelita — the loved ones he missed so much as he trained abroad.
“May training sa Thailand kasama yung ABAP family. Kung dumiretso ako dun, hindi na ko makakauwi hanggang Olympics,” he said.
“Grabe yung iniisip ko nun. Yun yung reason ko umuwi — para makapag-recharge. Kahit physically fit ako, malaking bagay yung mental. Sila nagbibigay sa kin ng lakas.”
Marcial then bared that his father got sick after the passing of his brother and it is just now that he is recovering.
The middleweight stressed that he is not turning his back on the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.
As a sign of his commitment to the federation, Marcial, who is already vaccinated, has committed to join the Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships which will take place in Dubai from May 21-June 1.
And he will head there with a fresh mind while staying in competitive shape as he continuously trains in the facility built for him by Junnie Navarro.
“Alam ko sa puso at isip ko na yung pagkauwi ko, mas makakabuti sa akin yun para sa Olympics. Nakuha ko na yung experience sa US, ngayon conditioning ako dito, at refreshed ako dahil nakita ko na yung pamilya ko.”
