He has established himself as one of the country’s elite amateur athletes – with medals from the Olympics, World Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games. In between, he was nurturing a professional career under the guidance of boxing great Manny Pacquiao.
Clearly, Eumir Marcial seemed to have it all figured out.
Boxing fans, thrilled by Marcial’s tough and rugged boxing presence, already saw him following in the footsteps of Pacquiao, or at least Nonito Donaire Jr.
Incidentally, Marcial has more in common with five-division champion Donaire in terms of family dynamics.
Like Donaire, Marcial has a wife who plays an active role in his career. Together, Eumir and Princess Galarpe Marcial are a formidable team.
Or so everyone thought.
Just five days ago, Princess went to social media to expose Eumir’s alleged extramarital affair. On Facebook, Princess, his wife of 14 years and brand manager, said she caught him and the alleged mistress together in an AirBnB in Pasay City last October.
But she said she has since forgiven Eumir and decided to give him a chance. Only to learn that the affair was still ongoing, and that Eumir allegedly drained their savings to build himself a house in his hometown of Zamboanga City.
Princess said she could no longer endure the “trauma, manipulation, emotional stress, physical abuse, and psychological torment that I have endured these past few months and throughout our years together.”
Eumir’s lawyer, Atty. Marlon Morada, said in a statement that they are advising him to “respond to the allegations against him in the proper forum.”
“To date, our client has not yet received a formal complaint or affidavit from his wife or the appropriate government agency.”
Reports indicated that Princess has filed concubinage and Anti-Violence Against Women and Children cases against the two-time Olympic bronze medalist.
But it didn’t stop there.
Over the past few days, Princess’ family has joined the fray, posting messages of support for her on Facebook.
Her father, Reynaldo Galarpe, a former boxing promoter, on Wednesday cited the changes in Eumir, whom he said he had treated like his very own son.
“Things suddenly changed into a different you,” read the post. “And I can’t contain every single mistake you’ve made in your life.
“I was the one who asked Princess to forgive you because in my heart I knew you would fix everything and return to your loving wife. But what has happened to you, Eumir?”
Princess’ brother, Kester, had previously written on Facebook: “(Eumir) is not stopping anytime soon with his lies…”
“Bold of you to assume that abuse can only take form physically when I myself was a witness to how you verbally and emotionally abused my sister.”
From the looks of it, the drama is not over yet. But given the course it’s taking, Eumir’s very own boxing career might be down for the count.
