TOKYO Olympics gold medal hopeful Eumir Felix Marcial sparred for the first time at the world renowned Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles on Thursday and impressed future Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach and his team.
Marcial put on an impressive display of power and speed in three-round sparring sessions with German Marco Deckmann (3-1 win-loss with three knockouts) and unbeaten Armenian Aram Amirkhanyan (13-0 with four knockouts) on Thursday at the Wildcard Gym.
Earlier this week, Marcial also sparred with American Gabriel Rosado (25-12-1 with 14 knockouts).
And Marvin Somodio, Roach’s Filipino assistant, was impressed saying Marcial’s coaches at the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) taught him well.
“I think his punching power is already there—and his quick hands. He is also fast even though he is big, his movement and footwork are great. ABAP had properly trained him,” said Somodio via overseas phone call on Friday. “I am confident in my behalf that he can win an Olympic gold as long as he will not be injured or be over trained.”
Among Marcial’s coaches at ABAP are Olympic bronze medalist Roel Velasco, Ronald Chaves and Australian consultant Don Abnett.
“He really needs to be smart in his offense because his opponent can knock him out, too. So after combinations, he should keep his guards up, keep his head movements and find great angles where he can avoid the counter,” Somodio added.
The sparring partners, according to international matchmaker and Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, are world-class fighters who could help hone Marcial to the men’s middleweight gold medal in next year’s Olympics.
“They are good tough guys, they are world class and very rough,” Gibbons said.
Gibbons said they are already processing Marcial’s medical requirements with the California State Athletic Commission for his license for his upcoming professional debut next month.
Somodio said Marcial’s debut would be either a six-rounder or four-rounder to jive with the three-round Olympic rule.