It's back to work for Eumir Felix Marcial, the Philippines' 2021 middleweight Olympic Bronze medalist, who scored his first professional knockout victory on April 9, on the undercard of the Erickson Lubin - Sebastian Fundora title fight in Las Vegas.

Marcial (2-0, 1 KO), a native of Zamboanga, Philippines, now training in Las Vegas, displayed the composure of a seasoned veteran to score a TKO of Isiah Hart (6-3-1, 4 KOs), of Mays Landing, N.J., at the 47-second mark of the fourth-round despite getting knocked down three times himself, once in the first round and twice in the second round in a firefight bout scheduled for six rounds.  That's a lot of experience to get for a fighter in only his second professional fight.

"I was happy that I won Saturday night against Isiah Hart.  I need to go back to the drawing board and fix a few things and I will be back stronger," said Marcial.

"But first I will return to the Philippines for a few days of rest and then I will head to Thailand to train for the Southeast Asian Games which will be held in Vietnam.  I look to take my fourth straight gold medal.  It takes hard work to do that and I promise my full commitment to the Philippines in the upcoming SEA Games.  I would like to thank Senator Pacquiao and MP Promotions' Sean Gibbons for all their support.  I look forward, as always, to bringing pride and honor  to the Philippines.  Lastly, thank you to all my fans for their continuous support." 

Marcial, 26, will put his amateur jersey back on and depart for the Philippines on Wednesday to join the National Team as he prepares to win his fourth consecutive Southeast Asian (SEA) Games middleweight title, the first step toward gearing up to qualify for the 2024 Olympic team.  His previous Sea Games Gold medals were won in 2015, 2017, and 2019.   

"Wow!  What a fight Eumir had on Saturday night!  They say you truly don't know a man until his is knocked down, and in Eumir's case it was three times, and how they get up. Well, we found out that Eumir has tremendous Filipino heart and his will to win emanates from it," said Sean Gibbons, President of MP Promotions.

 "I am so proud of how Eumir came back from adversity in the first few rounds and came on to stop Isiah Hart in the fourth round.  It was a great learning lesson.  We will make a few changes and then move on to bigger things.  Also, I support Eumir in his quest  to win his fourth consecutive Sea Games gold medal.  It is a great way to prepare for his third pro fight in July or August.  Senator Pacquiao also supports Eumir in his quest for Sea Games gold and representing the Philippines."

After winning his pro debut -- a four-round unanimous decision over Andrew Whitfield in Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2020 -- Marcial turned his attention to getting prepared for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.  In one of the most exciting bouts of the 2021 summer games, Marcial and top-seeded Oleksandr Khyzhniak, of Ukraine, battled tooth and nail in their semifinal battle.  Khyzhniak, who would move on to win the Silver medal, pulled it out in the third and final round by the narrowest of margins.  Marcial won the Bronze.  Another high water mark in Marcial's amateur career was capturing a Silver medal at the 2019 World Boxing Championships.