TOKYO Olympics bronze medalist has to wait at least three more months before climbing the ring as a pro fighter for the second time.
Marcial told reporters on Sunday that MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons informed him that he will be fighting in March either in Los Angeles or Las Vegas in the US.
“I am excited to fight again,” Marcial told reporters after he and Tokyo silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam were presented their houses and lots in Tagaytay City by Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino.
“Sean [Gibbons] told me that if I fight for the second time as a pro, I should be in the undercard of a big fight,” he said. “And it will be a six-rounder or an eight-rounder this time.”
Marcial, 26 and a middleweight, beat American Andrew Whitfield via unanimous decision in a four-rounder at the Microsoft Center in Los Angeles in December 16, 2020. His next fight after that was at the Asian Boxing Confederation Asian Elite Championships in May 28, 2021, in Dubai where he clinched bronze along with flyweight Mark Lester Durens and bantamweight contender Junmilardo Ogayre.
His next stop—and last fight—was at the Tokyo Olympics in August.
“It’s a perfect date to fight,” said Marcial, referring to March. “But it’s long overdue. I should be fighting this month, but I got married last month and I had several commitments.”
Marcial added: “That’s why I couldn’t train after the Olympics. But now, I’m back to training in my house in Imus. I lift weights, do the bag and jog.”
The Air Force sergeant Marcial, who admitted he’s 10 pounds overweight, he would prefer to train in Tagaytay City and immediately got an offer from POC president Tolentino to use the kickboxing gym in the city.
The pride of Zamboanga City said he also wanted to join his national teammates in Baguio City, but the boxers will break camp on December 18 for the holidays and will return in early January.
By then, Marcial will be flying to the US.
“I plan to fly to the US in early January,” he said. “By that time, my wife’s [Princess] US visa would have been released.”
Marcial will be under the care of renowned strength and conditioning trainer Angelo Memo Heredia in the US.
He vowed to keep his Olympic gold medal dream in Paris 2024 and will be seeking a slot on the national team to the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games in May and the Huangzhou 19th Asian Games in September.