Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial after his win. Photo courtesy of Jhay Oh Otamias
MANILA — Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial is still undefeated as a professional after scoring a stoppage win over Omar Huerta in their middleweight showdown in San Diego, California on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time).
Marcial unloaded a perfectly-placed counter-right hook in the third round that floored Huerta, who was unable to beat the referee's count.
The fight was stopped at the 1:08 mark, giving Marcial his eighth straight victory as a pro, with five wins coming by knockout.
"I was waiting for that left hand to counter it. In the second round, he landed a couple of them. So, I watched for that punch, and you saw the outcome. My corner told me that you’ve already warmed up, just let your hands go. I saw the punch and we got the knockout," Marcial said afterward.
Huerta, meanwhile, dropped to 15-2-1 in his career.
"Thank God for giving me strength. Of course, I want to thank my team. To my family, to all the Filipino people, thank you for your prayers. This victory not only belongs to me but to my country. I’m going to keep working hard and keep going until I get a world title," Marcial also said.
Despite the impressive win, Marcial is no longer set to catch up with Team Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) noting that the transition from a professional fight to an amateur bout, combined with a long flight from California, does not bode well for the athlete.
READ: Will Eumir Marcial be able to join Team PH in Asiad? ABAP unsure