EUMIR Felix Marcial will face what international dealmaker Sean Gibbons considers the most important fight of his professional career when the undefeated Filipino boxer takes on hometown fighter Omar Ulises Huerta on September 19 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
Marcial’s World Boxing Council (WBC) International middleweight belt will be on the line in the scheduled 10-round bout, which will serve as one of the undercard for the Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz-Nestor Bravo headliner.
But for Gibbons, the significance of Marcial’s eighth professional fight goes beyond defending a title.
“This is going to be the most important fight in his eighth professional career bout as he was never seen in USA television before,” Gibbons said.
“Everybody will be watching him closely so he must look absolutely good. It is going to be a big moment.”
The fight will mark Marcial’s first appearance on US television, with DAZN Worldwide and TNT set to air the card promoted by Premier Boxing Champions.
Marcial enters the bout unbeaten at 7-0 with four knockouts. His last professional fight came 10 months ago when he defeated Venezuela’s Eddy Colmenares by majority decision at the Araneta Coliseum.
The 30-year-old Filipino is determined to make the opportunity count.
“I am going for 8-0 on September 19, and I will make everyone knows who I am inside the ring,” Marcial said.
“This is the fight that I am longing for, a fight that will head me toward the promise land by next year.”
Huerta, meanwhile, brings a 15-1-1 record with 13 knockouts, setting up what Gibbons expects to be an explosive showdown between two fighters with proven stopping power.
“This fight is going to be a war as both fighters are known for their high knockout prowess,” Gibbons said.
A victory could also keep Marcial on track for another fight in December before a potential shot at a world title next year.
For Marcial, however, September 19 could be the night when American boxing fans finally get their first real look at one of the Philippines’ most accomplished fighters and the pressure will be on to make a statement. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
