NATIONAL men’s boxing team coach Ronald Chavez yesterday once again implored Olympic-bound Felix Eumir Marcial to join the national team’s training camp in Thailand to prime him up for the Tokyo Summer Games in July.
“Sana man lang pumunta siya dito sa amin para maganda ‘yong preparasyon,” Chavez said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum from the national team’s training camp in Kwalek, Thailand.
A former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, Chavez noted the difference from training as an amateur and as pro fighter in the public sports program backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., San Miguel, Milo, Smart, Amelie Hotel and Braska Restaurant.
“Kasi ‘yong pinaghahandaan natin sa Olympics, hindi propesyonal. Kung gusto niya sa Olympics dito siya. Kasi sa professional lahat ng kilos mo duon bumabagal ka. ‘Yong lakas ang tinitingnan duon,” Chavez said. “Mas mainan na may lakas ka at bilis ng kilos at galaw (sa amateur).”
Chavez expressed the hope that Marcial, who is currently in Zamboanga City, would be able to join the rest of his national teammates in the Thailand training camp after competing in the Asian Elite Championships in Dubai on May 21 to June 1.
Marcial, who trained for six months under a professional setup in Los Angeles, has not indicated whether he intends to join the Philippine team in Thailand.
