Tokyo-bound Eumir Marcial receiving 'staggering' offers to turn pro

Olympics-bound boxer Eumir Marcial has been receiving "staggering" offers to turn pro.

In a statement, Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas said "certain individuals and entities" are trying to sign Marcial before the Olympiad.

The ABAP official said the offers pressure Marcial "to deviate from his avowed mission" of competing in Tokyo.

"Eumir Marcial is a national treasure in the making. Please allow him to take the path towards being one with no distractions," Vargas said.

READ: Eumir Marcial punches ticket to Tokyo Olympics

Marcial said his focus is to fight and win at the Olympics to fulfill his promise to his father and realize the dream they shared since he was a child, according to ABAP.

But Vargas said the offers he has been receiving involve tens of millions of pesos,  which "would give anyone pause."

"While we do not begrudge Marcial of opportunities for financial security, we believe that these will come in due time," he said.

ABAP said Marcial will be free to decide the next steps in his boxing career after the Olympics.

The Games have been postponed for a year due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Philippines has never won a gold medal at the Olympics. Marcial is one of the athletes hoping to deliver the country's first in 2021. --MGP, GMA News