Eumir Marcial's bid for five SEA Games gold medals is still alive thanks to a dominant semifinal win over Vietnam's Nguyen Manh Cuong via a second-round TKO.
The drive for five gold medals remains alive for Eumir Marcial.
The four-time reigning SEA Games champion punched his ticket to the championship round with a commanding second-round TKO of Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Cuong in the men’s 80-kg semifinal on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Marcial’s sweeping right hook in the final moments of the round sent Chong to the canvas, forcing the referee to stop the bout and sealed the Filipino pugilist's entry to the Finals.
With the victory, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist became the fourth Filipino boxer to reach the SEA Games 2025 gold medal round, joining Aira Villegas, Jay Bryan Baricuatro, and Flint Jara.
Next up for Marcial is Thailand’s Yomkhot Jakkapong, the 2022 SEA Games heavyweight gold medalist, who advanced with a unanimous decision win over Indonesia’s Muskita Maikhel Roberrd.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.