Boxing against the odds in pursuit of the next Manny Pacquiao

By Dean Irvine, CNN

Updated 0618 GMT (1418 HKT) April 27, 2012

Coach Ronald Chavez watches as Filipino World Junior Champion Eumir Marcial (left) is put through his paces in the ring.
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Future Olympians or world champions? – Coach Ronald Chavez watches as Filipino World Junior Champion Eumir Marcial (left) is put through his paces in the ring.
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Members of the Philippine youth amateur boxing team take a break after sparring.
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Proto Pacquiaos – Members of the Philippine youth amateur boxing team take a break after sparring.
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The Philippines has won five medals in boxing at the Olympic Games, but none since 1996.
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Against the ropes – The Philippines has won five medals in boxing at the Olympic Games, but none since 1996.
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It takes six years of training and investing in talent to make an Olympic champion, says Manuel Lopez, Vice President of the Philippines Olympic Committee. "There's a lot of raw talent in the Philippines," he says.
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Punching below their weight – It takes six years of training and investing in talent to make an Olympic champion, says Manuel Lopez, Vice President of the Philippines Olympic Committee. "There's a lot of raw talent in the Philippines," he says.
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Sixteen-year-old Eumir Marcial is currently one of great prospects of Philippine amateur boxing.
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Prince of pugilism to ring king? – Sixteen-year-old Eumir Marcial is currently one of great prospects of Philippine amateur boxing.
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The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila was built in the 1930s and is where the 48 boxers, 36 men and 12 women, of the Philippine amateur boxing team train.
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Care-worn facilities – The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila was built in the 1930s and is where the 48 boxers, 36 men and 12 women, of the Philippine amateur boxing team train.
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