Team Philippines’ Eumir Marcial speaks with pro boxer Gennady Golovkin after his opening bout in the Paris Olympics 2024.

MANILA, Philippines—A few days ago, Team Philippine boxer Eumir Marcial bumped into boxing sensation Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in a fan-meets-idol encounter in the streets of Paris.

On Wednesday, just after Marcial’s unfortunate early exit in the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s 80kg boxing tournament, Golovkin consoled the Filipino slugger after his stinging loss.

“I admire you in the boxing ring, but I admire you even more outside of it when you approached me to cheer me up and give advice,” wrote Marcial in a Facebook post.

Marcial absorbed a unanimous decision loss in his Paris Olympics medal bid at the hands of young Uzbekistan fighter Turabek Khabibullaev.

Khabibullaev gave the Filipino southpaw a hard time inside the ring with clean jabs and a long wingspan that Marcial had difficulties with.

Before his exit, Marcial said that the Paris installment of the Summer Games would be his last.

However, after his early departure from the boxing event, Marcial admitted that he is unsure of his next step as a boxer.

Fortunately, middleweight star Golovkin gave him quite a statement on where he’d be most fitted to fight next.

“I’ll keep the words that you (Golovkin) told me that I’ll be better in Professional boxing. Much respect champ GGG,” said Marcial.

Professionally, Marcial holds an undefeated record after five major fights.