MANILA – The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) slammed certain individuals and entities for luring Tokyo Olympics-bound boxer Eumir Marcial to turn pro.
ABAP president Ricardo Vargas said that throwing in straggering offers to sign up Marcial distracts the amateur Filipino boxer prior to his bid in the Olympiad next year in Tokyo, Japan.
According to Vargas, offers pressure Marcial “to deviate from his avowed mission” of competing in the Olympics, which was postponed to next year due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“Eumir Marcial is a national treasure in the making. Please allow him to take the path towards being one with no distractions which threatens to occupy his mind,” Vargas said.
He added: “The numbers being thrown around are just too staggering. They run into the tens of millions of pesos even before he throws a punch. That would give anyone a second thought.”
Vargas made no mention of the identity of those people and entities pitching deals. He, however, stressed that most of them are boxing promoters not only here but also from the United States.
“ABAP is a non-stock, non-profit organization, which, in partnership with government through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), has taken it upon itself to nurture the career of national boxers such as Marcial,” Vargas said.
“ABAP does so in the belief that our athletes need support from both government and the private sector to realize our country’s Olympic aspirations,” he added. “While we do not begrudge Marcial of opportunities for financial security, we believe that these will come in due time.”
The country has never won a gold medal in the Olympics. Marcial will be on a mission to bring the flag its first in 2021./PN
