Eumir Marcial signs with Manny Pacquiao Promotions

Olympic-bound boxer Eumir Marcial is officially going professional.

The 2019 world championships silver medalist on Thursday announced that he has signed with Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions, which also handles the careers of Johnriel Casimero and Jerwin Ancajas.

"Napili ko ang MP Promotions dahil sa kanilang 100% support sa aking hangarin na lumaban pa para sa Pilipinas sa mga future SEA Games at Asian Games competitions at maging sa Olympics," Marcial said.

"Sa katunayan, nakasaad sa aking six-year-promotional deal na hindi sila magiging hadlang sa oras na kailanganin ako ng national team," he added.

In April, Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas expressed concerns over the "staggering" offers Marcial had received from "certain individuals and entities."

He said the offers pressure the middleweight fighter "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.

In another statement, the ABAP official thanked Pacquiao for being the "voice of reason" in Marcial's situation.

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

Marcial issued his own statement in June, confirming that he was considering several deals but he assured that he is still focused on competing in the Olympics.

"Gaya po ng aking naipangako, ibibigay ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para makuha ang minimithi natin na Olympic gold medal at maging isang boxing world champion ilang taon mula ngayon," he said. 

Marcial booked his ticket to the Olympics after reaching the semifinals and later winning the gold medal in the Asia and Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Amman, Jordan in March. —MGP, GMA News