Eumir Marcial claims PH’s lone boxing gold in 2025 SEA Games

CHONBURI, Thailand – Eumir Marcial saved the Philippine boxing team from a gold-less campaign in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist captured the Philippines’ lone boxing gold after a 4-1 win over Indonesia’s Maikhel Muskita in the men’s 80kg final at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, December 19. 

Back in SEA Games action after missing the 2023 edition, the hard-hitting Zamboangueño claimed his fifth gold in the biennial showpiece to avenge his fellow Filipino boxers who settled for lesser finishes in past days due to disputable decisions.

“This is not just for me. This is for the entire nation and the Philippine boxing team. This is for all of us,” Marcial said in Filipino.

His victory came after Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), Jay Brian Baricuatro (men’s 48kg), and Flint Jara (men’s 54kg) fell short of the gold following losses to their respective Thai foes.

Villegas, a Paris Olympics bronze medalist, absorbed a 5-0 defeat from Chuthamat Raksat; Jara suffered a similar 5-0 loss to Thanarat Saengphet; while Baricuatro fell prey to Thitiwat Phlongauri in a controversial 1-4 verdict.

The last Filipino boxer to take the ring, Marcial made sure to add to the Philippines’ golden harvest. 

With the scores tied after the first two rounds, Marcial forced the action in the third salvo as he earned the nod of all five judges for the split decision victory. 

“I was not expecting that I would be here and get my fifth gold medal in the SEA Games,” Marcial said. 

The Philippines also bagged six boxing bronzes courtesy of Ofelia Magno (women’s 48kg), Riza Pasuit (women’s 60kg), Nesthy Petecio (women’s 63kg), Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 70kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 69kg), and Weljon Mindoro (men’s 75kg). – Rappler.com