TOKYO Olympics-bound Eumir Felix Marcial officially sealed a six-year promotional deal with Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions on Thursday and banked close to P10 million in signing bonus.
Although Marcial has verbally committed to MP Promotions since last summer, it was only on Thursday that the contracts were signed with Pacquiao represented by his company’s president, Sean Gibbons.
Marcial said he was also granted a $200,000 (P9,918,100) bonus for signing with MP Promotions, which set an October pro debut for the 24-year-old pride of Zamboanga City
“I want to tell everyone of my decision that I signed a promotional deal with Manny Pacquiao Promotions,” Marcial said in a statement.
According to Marcial, the deal doesn’t prevent him from suiting up for the national team, especially for the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
“I chose MP Promotions because of its 100-percent support for me to represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and the Olympics,” he said.
Marcial, along with women boxer Irish Magno, earned his ticket to Tokyo in the Russia qualifiers last February. Also qualified for Tokyo are pole vaulter EJ Obiena and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo.
The International Boxing Federation has relaxed rules on professionals competing in the Olympics, World Championships and other major continental and regional games.
Marcial said he considers the signing bonus as an added boost to his Olympic campaign. The same amount was offered to the potential world champion by other US-based promotions outfits.
Marcial acknowledged the support of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, especially its president Ricky Vargas and Secretary-General Ed Picson.
Vargas said he is relieved that Marcial signed with MP Promotions.
“I told him, I am very happy for him. I wished him well and said that he can now focus on his career,” Vargas said. “He is in good hands with Senator Pacquiao.”
Marcial also thanked his coaches at Abap—Romeo Brin, Pat Gaspi, Boy and Roel Velasco, Elmer Pamisa and Ronald Chaves—as well as lawyers Clint Aranas and Jeff Manuel David who advised him on his tax obligations.
He promised to go all out for the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
“I will give everything,” Marcial said.
At MP Promotions, Marcial joins World Boxing Organizaton minimumweight titleholder Pedro Taduran and bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and Internatioal Boxing Federation super flyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas.
Marcial did not run out of people to thank for the positive development in his career. He also expressed gratitude to boxing managers Keith Connolly and Shelly Finkel, fiancée Princess Galarpe and his parents Carmelita and Eulalio.