Filipino star Eumir Marcial is set to live his dream and return to boxing on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Barrios bout

Eumir Marcial is one of the best boxers to come from the Philippines, having represented the country for more than a decade. The fighter is set to return to the ring after a hiatus of more than a year.

Marcial, who won a bronze medal for the Philippines at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, is scheduled to face veteran American fighter Alexis Gaytan next month as part of the undercard of the highly anticipated Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios WBC welterweight title bout.

The 29-year-old is living out one of his dreams, ticking an item off his bucket list as he prepares to step into the same ring as his idol, Manny Pacquiao.

Makakalaban ni Eumir Marcial pinangalanan na mga tol!🔥

🇵🇭Eumir Marcial (5-0)
🇺🇸Alexis Gaytan (17-10)

Undercard sa bakbakang Pacquiao-Barrios sa paparating a July 19, sa Las Vegas NV.#koboxingchannel #EumirMarcial #pacquiaovsbarrios pic.twitter.com/IfQj6Jdc50

— @k.o.boxingchannel (@dambu08) June 7, 2025

“I watched all of his fights on TV and got into boxing because I was so inspired by Manny Pacquiao. I can’t describe the feeling of happiness to be on the same stage with him. It has always been my dream to fight on the same card as my idol,” Marcial said during a media interview.

“My dream has come true. I represented the Philippines in the Olympics and won bronze. But my real dream is to fight alongside Hall of Famer and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. On July 19, that dream becomes a reality,” he added.

Marcial was added to the undercard along with fellow Filipinos and former world champions Jerwin Ancajas and Mark Magsayo by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and VIVA Promotions. Notably, Pacquiao’s son, Jimuel Pacquiao, is also part of the undercard and is set to make his professional debut.

Marcial is returning from a break following a disappointing showing at the 2024 Olympic Games, where he lost his opening bout to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the men’s 80-kilogram division. However, the southpaw has been impressive in his professional career, remaining undefeated in all five bouts, with his latest victory coming via a fourth-round knockout of Thailand’s Thoedsak Sinam in March 2023 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Filipino star is currently training in Los Angeles, California, alongside his idol Pacquiao at both the Wild Card Gym and Fortune Boxing Gym. The Pacquiao vs. Barrios fight will reportedly be streamed via PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view on July 19.

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