Eumir Marcial KO’s his way to Olympics’ boxing semifinals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial continued to impress in the sport’s biggest stage after pulling off a stunning knockout victory over Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan in the first round to march into the men’s middleweight semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics.

Marcial was just too much for Darchinyan as the Filipino slugger patiently waited for his timings and flawlessly executed his corner’s game plan.

Soon as the bell rang, Marcial countered Darchinyan’s aggression by hitting the latter with body shots.

Marcial was able to slow down Darchinyan’s movement with 1:30 remaining after connecting on several shots to the mid-section.

After Marcial’s work to the body, he then varied his attack by throwing his solid left and right straight combinations.

In their final exchange, Marcial was able to find the opening and threw a vicious right hook that left the Armenian quarterfinalist sprawled on the canvass.

Marcial’s first-round knockout win assured him and the Philippines of the bronze medal and another podium finish in Tokyo.

Awaiting Marcial in the semifinal round is Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine who defeated Euri Cedeno Martinez of the Dominican Republic.