Eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao is set to retire from boxing in 2021, but his trainer Freddie Roach believes he has the man to follow in his footsteps.
Eumir Felix Marcial is 24 years of age and has signed for Pacquiao's MP Promotions on a six-year professional contract after going 67-17 in a 12-year amateur career that began at the tender age of 13.
Marcial will train under Roach, who believes he, like Pacquiao, can do the Philippines proud as a world champion some day.
“We did four rounds of mitts,” Roach told The Manila Times. “Eumir worked on the heavy bag and the speed bag. He’s got a lot of power and very talented!”
“But we have a lot of work to do. Preparing for the Olympics after he turns professional is an unusual situation. But I really hope we can be the first to bring a world title [in his division] and Olympic gold to the Philippines. That would be very special.
“When Eumir walked through the door, I took him into the upstairs gym. I flashed it back to 2001 when Manny first walked through the same door looking for someone to do mitts with him.
“Eumir and I had a great time. I told him the story of how Manny and I met and showed him the original ring where we trained for so many fights. The dressing room Manny used in the original portion of the gym, and had a nice talk about what we expected from each other.
“There is one difference, though, between my first look at Manny and Eumir,” the renowned trainer explained. “Manny was fighting at 122 pounds then, while Eumir will be starting at 160. That’s quite a difference!
“Preparing for the Olympics after he turns professional is an unusual situation,” Roach added.
“But I really hope we can be the first to bring a world title (in his division) and Olympic gold to the Philippines. That would be very special.”