Olympic boxer Eumir Felix Marcial and rising professional contender Weljon Mindoro will banner the Philippine men’s boxing team in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games set from December 9 to 20 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino confirmed their inclusion on Wednesday, thanking MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons and the fighters’ handlers for allowing the two pros to suit up for the country.
“We would like to thank Mr. Sean Gibbons and their managers for lending them to the national team,” Tolentino said at a media briefing in Pasig City. “It gives us the opportunity for a podium finish in boxing, but of course we want the gold. This is for the country.”
Marcial, a four-time SEA Games gold medalist, will compete in the men’s 80kg class. Mindoro, undefeated with a 15-0-1 record built entirely on knockouts, will make his SEA Games debut in the 75kg division.
“I am very happy to compete for the SEA Games. It is very hard to turn your back on the national team,” Marcial said. “The country has given me a lot, and I’m ready to go for my fifth gold medal.”
Marcial enters the Games fresh from a majority-decision win over Eddy Colmenares last October 28 in Thrilla in Manila 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, which kept his pro slate spotless at 7-0 with five knockouts.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) Secretary-General Marcus Jarwin Manalo also announced the rest of the men’s lineup, noting that the Philippines will compete in seven of nine weight classes, skipping the 63.5kg and 69kg divisions due to low medal prospects.
The full men’s roster includes Jay Bryan Barquarto (48kg), Marvin Tabamo (51kg), Flint Jara (54kg), Ian Clark Bautista (57kg), Junmilardo Ogayre (60kg), Mindoro (75kg), and Marcial (80kg).
The women’s team will field six boxers across eight divisions: Ofelia Magno (48kg), Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas (50kg), Risa Pasuit (57kg), Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio (60kg), and Paris Olympian Hergie Bacyadan (70kg).
Manalo added that no boxer was displaced during the selection, explaining that Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam voluntarily gave up his 57kg spot to Bautista after falling ill and missing weeks of training.
All national boxers—except Marcial and Mindoro—are currently in a two-week training camp in Muak Lek, Thailand.
