The Olympian impresses once more.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial aced his first real test, dominating Argentinean veteran Ricardo Villalba en route to a second round TKO win.
Marcial looked sharp all throughout, catching Villalba with clean, snappy jabs early and often. He also used that jab to set up his power shots, including those that sent the Argentine to the canvas in each of the two rounds.
In the first round, Marcial dictated the action early on with that jab and some solid body work. He then used a double jab to catch Villalba right in the gut with a left hook that had the Argentine bent over on the canvas writhing in pain.
It was much of the same in the second round for Marcial, peppering Villalba with sharp jabs up until the finishing sequence: a double jab followed by a punishing left straight, then a jab followed by a right hook that sent Villalba to the canvas a final time.
In a post-fight interview with Quinito Henson for “Play It Right TV,” Marcial credited his improved jab to watching film and studying how world champions use it to perfection.
“Nakuha na po namin ‘yung timing [in his jab] dahil ‘yun po talaga ang pinag-aralan namin,” said Marcial. Every day I watched [Jaron] Ennis, Tank [Gervonta Davis], and all the southpaw fighters. I see them throw that quick jab.”
The unbeaten pro also credited his wife, Princess, whom Marcial said allowed him to zone in on his preparations.
“I’m very grateful na nakasama ko ‘yung wife ko. ‘Di ko po magagawa ‘to ng mag-isa—mag-training, after training, magluluto tapos maglalaba, then training,” Marcial told Henson. “’Di ko kaya gawin lahat ‘yon kung wala ‘yung asawa ko… Naging focused talaga ko. ‘Yung focus ko is mag-training. Siya na bahala sa mga ibang bagay.”
With Marcial now 4-0, MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons told Henson that a 10-rounder will be next for the Filipino, whom he says will be staying at the 154-pound division for the mean time.