Camille Naredo

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div> </div>Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial claimed a fifth Southeast Asian Games gold medal on Friday, overcoming Indonesia&#x27;s Maikhel Roberrd Muskita in the final of the light-heavyweight class at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand.It was a tough match for the two-time Olympian, with judges split after the first two rounds. He left no doubt after the third, however, landing a huge right that staggered his foe against the ropes.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/12/19/eumir-marcial-delivers-team-ph-s-lone-boxing-gold-in-2025-sea-games-2050">READ: Eumir Marcial delivers Team PH&#x27;s lone boxing gold in 2025 SEA Games</a></div>Marcial&#x27;s victory helped the Philippines avoid a gold-less campaign in the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, after Flint Jara, Jay Bryan Baricuatro, and Aira Villegas all settled for silver medals.But according to the veteran, he very nearly didn&#x27;t see action in Thailand.&quot;Sabi ko, actually, to be honest, sa lahat ng mga tao na nakikinig ngayon, hindi po sana ako lalaban dito dahil sa hand wraps nila. Unsafe talaga &#x27;yung hand wraps nila,&quot; Marcial explained, showing his fist.&quot;Ito, na-injury ang kamay ko. But sabi ko, andito na ako, ito na &#x27;yung chance ulit na mag-represent sa bansa. Sabi ko bahala na,&quot; he added. &quot;Ito, natuloy at nakuha natin &#x27;yung gold medal.&quot;According to Marcial, the hand wraps allowed by the organizers are only 3.5-meters in length, which he says is too short for their weight class.&quot;Hindi mapo-protektahan &#x27;yung kamay namin,&quot; he said. &quot;Hindi talaga safe ang tape nila kaya dumating sa point na kailangan namin mag-desisyon kung lalaban ba ako, itutuloy ba namin &#x27;yung paglaban ko o hindi.&quot;Marcial ultimately decided to push through, though he noted that he is not the only boxer who complained about the hand wraps.&quot;Ang dami nang boksingero, even &#x27;yung kalaban ko, meron na siyang tape sa loob. Lahat ng mga boxer nagka-injury na,&quot; he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766208312800WhatsApp Image 2025-12-19 at 9.44.08 PM.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial celebrates after winning the gold medal match in the men&#x27;s light-heavyweight division in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 19, 2025 at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand. POC Media" width="960"/>Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial celebrates after winning the gold medal match in the men&#x27;s light-heavyweight division in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 19, 2025 at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand. POC Media</div>The hand wraps were not the only issue that Marcial dealt with. There was also the pressure of high expectations, as he has been a dominant force in the Southeast Asian level since making his debut in 2015. The losses of his teammates in their earlier bouts also weighed on the Olympian.&quot;&#x27;Yung parating sinasabi nila, na, &#x27;Ito &#x27;Mir, ikaw na lang din &#x27;yung pagasa namin.&#x27; Maraming beses na &#x27;to nangyari. Nangyari na &#x27;to sa world championships, ako lang &#x27;yung naka-medal. Last &#x27;yung Asian Games, ako lang din &#x27;yung nagka-medal,&quot; he recalled.&quot;&#x27;Yun na ulit &#x27;yung narinig ko sa kanila na, &#x27;Eumir, ikaw &#x27;yung pagasa namin.&#x27; Kaya kanina, binigay ko, binuhos ko na &#x27;yung lahat. Nag-stay focused po ako at binigay ko lahat para makuha &#x27;yung gold.&quot;After a difficult campaign in Bangkok, Marcial was non-committal when asked about competing in the Asian Games next year in Nagoya.The boxer said he is planning to focus on his professional career instead, in the hopes of fighting for a world championship next year.&quot;Sa ngayon wala pa sa isip ko &#x27;yung Asian Games, but parati kong sinasabi na &#x27;pag may pagkakataon po ulit na mag-represent po ako sa bansa natin, 100% po, on duty po ako diyan,&quot; said Marcial.

#2025SEAGames || 'Sabi ko, actually, to be honest, sa lahat ng mga tao na nakikinig ngayon, hindi po sana ako lalaban dito.'

#2025SEAGames || 'Sabi ko, actually, to be honest, sa lahat ng mga tao na nakikinig ngayon, hindi po sana ako lalaban dito.'

Eumir Marcial nearly didn't see action in the 2025 SEA Games. Here's why

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

Eumir Marcial nearly didn't see action in the 2025 SEA Games. Here's why

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 20, 2025 01:59 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

boxing

Eumir Marcial

SEA Games

2025 SEA Games

ABAP

Thailand

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.