“Thank God for giving me strength,” Marcial said. “Of course, I want to thank my team. To my family, to all the Filipino people, thank you for your prayers. This victory not only belongs to me but to my country. I’m going to keep working hard and keep going until I get a world title.”
Marcial controlled the action in the battle of southpaws before ending matters emphatically in the third. After Huerta connected with a left cross, Marcial countered with a perfectly timed right hook that sent Huerta crashing to the canvas and bringing an end to the fight.
“I was waiting for that left hand to counter it,” Marcial said. “In the second round, he landed a couple of them. So, I watched for that punch, and you saw the outcome. My corner told me that you’ve already warmed up, just let your hands go. I saw the punch and we got the knockout.”
Cris Esqueda / Premier Boxing Champions