The Games and Amusement Board is still waiting for Eumir Marcial to secure a professional boxing license as the Olympic-bound fighter announced three weeks ago that he has turned pro.
“Wala pa po as of now eh,” said GAB chairman Baham Mitra in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, powered by SMART and presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, MILO, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), with Upstream Media as webcast partner.
“Okay lang, naghihintay lang po kami.”
The middleweight fighter has signed a six-year deal with MP Promotions of boxing legend and senator Manny Pacquiao. The company has big plans in store for him, including a two-month training camp and an October debut in Los Angeles.
According to MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, the 2019 AIBA World Championships silver medalist is set to do about three fights in the U.S. before he can fully focus on his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
The pride of Zamboanga was actually set to fly to the States to begin his training, but saw his plans stalled as Metro Manila is under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 4-18.
Mitra revealed that Marcial, a winner of three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, was actually supposed to visit the GAB office in Makati last Wednesday but he did not show up.
Still, the former House of Representatives member and Palawan governor said that the 24-year-old is very much welcome in his office. He also encouraged Marcial to begin his application online.
“Ang GAB po kasi nag-adapt na rin eh, meron na rin pong online application for appointment,” shared Mitra, who’s been GAB chief since 2016.
“So welcome po, hinihintay lang po namin si sir Marcial.”
