DOHA, Qatar -- Nagbunga ang paghihintay ni welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial ng tamang panahon para magtala ng panalo.
Pinatumba ni Marcial si Egyptian fighter Said Mohamed Walid para sa kanyang unang tagumpay sa 2015 AIBA World Boxing Cham-pionships dito.
“Tinamaan din niya ako nung una kaya sabi ko kailangan ko nang gumanti,” sabi ng 19-anyos na dating World Junior at Asian Youth champion.
Nagtiyaga si Marcial na bumuka ang depensa ng second-ranked boxer ng African Confede-ration Championships para magkakasunod na pakawalan ang kanyang mga left straights at body shots.
“Mabuti na lang at tumama ‘yung mga suntok ko,” dagdag pa ng tubong Zamboanga na si Marcial.
Makakatapat ni Marcial sa kanyang pangalawang laban si Youba Sissokho ng Spain na umiskor ng panalo laban kay Ardee Sailom ng Thailand.
Nauna nang tinalo ni light flyweight Rogen Ladon ng Bago City si Leandro Blanc ng Argentina.
“Eumir and Rogen both need to win at least four fights here to earn a slot to the Rio Olympics next year. This is a happy start!” sabi ni ABAP executive director Ed Picson.
Ikinatuwa rin ni Picson ang pagdating ni boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
“The whole place is agog in anticipation of his visit Thursday and the organizers from Qatar and AIBA are laying out the red carpet for him. It’s going to be a hectic whistle-stop trip, but Manny said he wants to witness the new Olympic-style boxing, give moral support to our boxers and visit with the huge Filipino community here,” ani Picson.
Inaasahang mano-nood si Pacquiao ng laban ni Ladon para suportahan at bigyan ito ng inspirasyon.