OLYMPIC bronze medalist Eumir Marcial makes his returns to the ring after a hiatus for over a year and takes on veteran Alexis Gaytan in the undercard of the much-anticipated return of ring legend Manny Pacquiao on July 19, 2025 (US time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, US.
Marcial faces another veteran fighter in Gaytan, who has 27 pro fights.
The 29-year-old Marcial’s last two opponents were against experienced boxers like Gaytan. He stopped former regional champion Ricardo Villalba in two rounds in in 2023 in the US and then scored a fourth round knockout of Thai Thoedsak Sinam in his Philippine debut last year.
While still with the Philippines National Boxing Team, Marcial turned pro in 2020 and scored a unanimous decision win over Andrew Whitfield in the US. He then turned his attention back to tue amateur ranks and competed for the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan the following year.
Marcial had an impressive outing in the Olympics and stopped his first two opponents - Younes Nemouchi and Arman Darchinyan. However, he fell short in the semifinals and settled to a bronze after losing to Oleksandr Khyzhniak by split decision.
Gaytan is coming to this fight with momentum after winning back-to-back fights. He defeated Danny Marichales by unanimous decision last year and Diego Rivera via a first round knockout this year.
Marcial is 5-0 with three knockouts, while Gaytan is 17-10 with six knockouts.
Pacquiao, at 46 years old, challenges World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight king Mario Barrios in the main event.
Former world champion Mark Magsayo is also seeing action in the undercard, while Pacquiao’s son, Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr., is reportedly making his pro debut in the same event. / EKA