FILIPINO middleweight boxing bet Eumir Felix D. Marcial advanced to the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday after making short work of Algerian opponent Younes Nemouchi in their Round of 16 clash at the Kokugikan Arena.
The 25-year-old Mr. Marcial got the job done inside the opening round by way of Referee Stopped Contest due to Injury (RSC-I) after Mr. Nemouchi suffered a slight gash above his right eye and was ruled unable to continue.
But unfortunately for the Philippine boxing team, women’s flyweight Irish Magno fell to Thai Jutamas Jitpong by unanimous decision in their Round of 16 encounter.
Mr. Marcial came out aggressive and was in control from the opening bell, connecting on powerful punches to the body and head that had his opponent reeling.
A right cross to the kisser sent Mr. Nemouchi down, prompting Slovakian referee Radoslav Simon to make a standing-8 count.
The fight proceeded after until the two fighters clashed heads in the final 1:10, moving the ring official to check the condition of Mr. Nemouchi for the gash he absorbed.
Action continued before the referee deemed the Algerian can no longer continue with his injury with 19 seconds to go in the round.
Mr. Marcial was proclaimed winner after.
“The match was close. He (Nemouchi) kept going inside. I connected with a right hook and he dropped. But he showed a lot of fighting spirit and continued. Credit to him,” said Mr. Marcial in Filipino after his win.
Mr. Marcial tries to book a spot in the semifinals and assure himself of an Olympic bronze medal in the quarterfinals on Sunday at 11:36 a.m. against fellow professional fighter Arman Darchinyan of Armenia.
FIRST BOXING LOSS
Meanwhile, Team Philippines suffered its first boxing loss when Ms. Magno bowed to Ms. Jitpong.
Thirty-year-old Ms. Magno was outclassed by her Thai opponent throughout their three-round bout to fall, 0-5.
Judges scored the fight, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, for Ms. Jitpong.
Interestingly, Ms. Magno defeated Ms. Jitpong in their last encounter at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
They, too, trained together in Bangkok in the lead-up to the Olympics.
“I have fought her (Jitpong) before and they did a good job in scouting us, making the fight more difficult for us,” Ms. Magno said after the fight.
Apart from Mr. Marcial, Filipino boxers still in contention are women’s featherweight Nesthy Petecio and flyweight Carlo Paalam.
Both are to see action on July 31, with Ms. Petecio facing Irma Testa of Italy in a semifinal fight set for 12:39 p.m., and Mr. Paalam taking on Mohammed Flissi of Algeria in a Round of 16 encounter set for 10:48 a.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo