Eumir Marcial faces career crossroads after Paris 2024 exit: Los Angeles 2028 or focus on pro career?

In a truly tough loss, Eumir Marcial’s dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal were dashed after an early exit to Paris 2024.

Losing his opening bout to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev, Marcial is now facing a true crossroads for his boxing career.

[Related: Eumir Marcial absorbs shocking early exit from Paris 2024 after losing to young Uzbek foe]

At 28-years-old, Eumir now has a choice to make: focus on his budding professional career, or give the Olympics another shot in four years.

Following his bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, Marcial already kind of faced this decision.

Eumir paused his pro career to give Paris 2024 a shot, and among his biggest tournaments for the national team was last year’s Asian Games where he won the silver medal.

As for his professional career, Marcial fought in the Philippines earlier this year, scoring a knockout win to hike his record to an impressive 5-0. However, the gap between that fight and his previous one was a staggering 13 months.

Moving forward, the choice is Eumir’s, and on the heels of his shocking Olympic exit, it appears the final decision will be a difficult one.

[Related: Eumir Marcial left vulnerable after shock Olympic exit: 'Yung pangarap ko biglang gumuho']

“Sobrang sakit, kasi isinantabi ko yung professional career ko, ang dami ko sinakripisyo para mapunta dito sa Olympics, pero siguro may mas magandang plano yung Panginoon para sakin,” he said.

“Hindi ko alam saan ako ulit magsisimula, kung sa professional career ko ba o mag-prepare para sa Los Angeles Olympics,” Marcial added.

Eumir’s decision will not come with haste. For now, he only has to take this loss on the chin.

“Naghihingi lang po ako ng pasensya sa lahat ng Pilipino na naniwala at sumuporta sakin, sana po ganun pa rin yung suporta nila sakin,” he said.

“Sobrang proud ko po na nag-represent ako ulit sa Olympics.”

(With reports from Carlo Pamintuan/One Sports)