Tokyo Olympics: Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial mauls his way to first win as quest for gold kicks off

Marcial knocks Algerian Younes Nemouchi down in accidental clash of heads, but further opens cuts before referee’s stoppage

The 25-year-old middleweight is looking for golden success at Tokyo 2020 before expected switch to pro ranks

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Philippines‘ Eumir Marcial celebrates after winning against Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi in their men’s middleweight bout at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:05pm, 29 Jul 2021Updated: 4:23pm, 30 Jul 2021

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Filipino boxing sensation Eumir Marcial kicked off his quest for Olympic gold in fine fashion by smashing Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi in his first Tokyo 2020 bout.

Marcial is looking to follow in the footsteps of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who snagged the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold on Monday, and earned congratulations from legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao on Twitter.

The 25-year-old is his country’s hottest boxing prospect since the rise of eight-division world champ Pacquiao, and came out storming in the first round of his middleweight division bout (69-75kgs) at the famed Ryogoku Kokugican Sumo Hall.

Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi bleeds as he takes a punch from Philippines' Eumir Marcial. Photo: AFP

Nemouchi got knocked down and cut after an accidental clash of heads, prompting an intervention from the referee for his opponent to get checked out.

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