Pacquiao urges Marcial to 'stick to Olympics' amid offers to turn pro

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has urged Eumir Marcial to remain focused on the Tokyo Olympics before entertaining offers to turn pro.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas recently bared that "certain individuals and entities" are trying to sign Marcial before the Olympiad.

In another statement, he shared that Pacquiao has been a "voice of reason" in the situation.

"He has come out with the advise that Marcial think of the country first and stick to his Olympic dream," Vargas said about the eight-division champion.

"The good Senator said he can always make the jump to professional boxing after the Olympiad and he will support Marcial then," he added.

Vargas said he spoke with Marcial via video conference and assured the young fighter that the ABAP will not hinder him from pursuing financial stability in the future.

They also agreed to meet personally as soon as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation permits.

"Eumir gave me his word that he will wait for such face-to-face meeting before he makes a final decision. And I know Eumir to be a man of his word," Vargas said. 

Marcial qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after reaching the semifinals of the 2020 Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan. He later won the gold medal. —MGP, GMA News