ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has expressed jubilation over the victory of Zamboangueño boxer in the Men’s Middleweight class finals at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Salazar’s statement came after Eumir Felix Marcial on Thursday, August 24, grabbed the gold in that category.
Marcial, 20, prevailed over Thailand’s Pathomsak Kuttiya through a unanimous decision.
Salazar said Marcial has brought pride and honor not only to Zamboanga City, but to the country as well.
“We are very proud of you,” the mayor said. Marcial is a resident of Barangay Lunzuran, this city.
Dr. Cecil Atilano, city sports director, said Marcia is a concrete example of an athlete who started from the grassroots and now excelling in the field he was honed and minted.
Marcial, was mentored by the late Arsenio “Rawhide” Nuevo, who founded the "Golpe-golpe na barangay" (Boxing in the Barangays).
Atilano said Marcial dedicated his victory to the late Nuevo.
His victory in Kuala Lumpur was his second gold in the Games, the first of which was bagged during the 2015 Singapore Games.
Marcial is expected to receive cash prize from the city government for his victory. (TPGJR/PNA)
