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Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin Preview
One of boxing’s most exciting junior featherweights will face a stern test in Atlanta this weekend. Elijah Pierce will face Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin at the Overtime Elite Arena. Pierce is riding a 10-fight win streak and wants to take another step toward a title shot.
But don’t let Sanmartin’s record fool you. This grizzled veteran is a born fighter and isn’t here for a walkover. Yes, he’s a journeyman, but only in the sense that fighting is his life. Meanwhile, Pierce has exceptional talent but has faced adversity in recent matches.
This is one of those fights where the odds don’t tell the full story. It could be a fascinating match-up and we’re predicting a knockout. This has bigger ramifications for the 122 lb division with Pierce’s career on the line.
Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Pierce enters this fight with an impressive 18-2 record, including 16 KO wins. The American hasn’t lost since a 2019 defeat to Sulaiman Segawa. Since then, the Oklahoma City native has gone on a 10-fight win streak with eight knockouts. Not all of those opponents were elite, but it’s been an impressive showing.
They say that boxers are only as good as their last fight. It’s an interesting situation for Pierce, who secured an impressive fourth-round finish over Kevin Villanueva. He overcame some early adversity because he suffered a knockdown. However, he showed impressive resilience to stand up and defeat the former contender in style.
This clash with Sanmartin is the third 10-round fight of Pierce’s career. He has less experience than his opponent. Sanmartin has fought multiple 10-rounders and even 12-round matches in his long career. However, his last match was at 135 lbs. It remains to be seen how the weight cut will affect the 33-year-old, if at all.
‘El General’ is a true veteran with 44 fights on his record. He’s won 35 times with 21 KO wins. His most recent victory was a unanimous decision over Mauricio Martinez. Despite losing eight times, he only has two knockout losses. Mauricio Lara demolished him in 2022.
Best Fights of 2024;
Elijah Pierce TKO4 Arthur Villanueva.
03/29/2024. pic.twitter.com/OqRG0QCIRP— 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗷 𝗥🥀 (@BoxingJournaIs) August 13, 2024
Sanmartin has been active since that setback, but his record doesn’t tell the full story. Two split decision losses to Shabaz Masoud and Kevin Gonzalez could have gone the other way. Sometimes boxing can be a sport of fine margins, so neither fighter will want to go the distance here.
Sanmartin fights out of an orthodox stance, but Pierce is a southpaw. The American is three inches taller than his opponent. However, Sanmartin has a powerful frame, so it will be interesting to see who wins the physical battle.
Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin Predictions
There’s no underestimating the power of youth. That’s why our boxing prediction is that Pierce will win this fight. He’s on an upward trajectory while Sanmartin is content taking any fight he can get against decent opponents.
Pierce is explosive and dynamic, with five early finishes in his past seven fights. Sanmartin is notoriously difficult to knockout, but Pierce has devastating power. He believes he’s in a different class than Sanmartin and is on an upward trajectory.
Some people doubt him because he suffered a knockdown against Villanueva. But this could be the best thing that ever happened to him. He’s still only 27 and is now entering his prime. We saw how Naoya Inoue reacted to Luis Nery dropping him. Sometimes it wakes a fighter up and makes them even more dangerous and responsible.
Pierce’s father is his coach at Malandrin Boxing Gym in Oklahoma City. It’s always fascinating when a parent is in their child’s corner. We expect Pierce to be better defensively because of this and less naïve.
Cardio could be an issue for both men in this one. Sanmartin is dropping in weight which could drain him at his age. It’s always tough to shed those extra pounds, but it gets even more difficult as fighters grow older. Meanwhile, Pierce typically boxes eight rounds, so it will be interesting to see how he handles another two.
We believe that Sanmartin’s toughness will drag this fight past the midpoint. But then Pierce will open up with combinations and finish his opponent. It wouldn’t shock us if Sanmartin retires in the corner or if his corner throws in the towel.
However, Sanmartin has nous and grit on his side. He won’t wilt in the face of fire and knows how to make this one ugly. Anything can happen in a fight and he could catch Pierce. His shorter stature means he must use his inside game and make this one uncomfortable for the American boxer.
Pierce’s higher-quality training is the difference-maker. Sanmartin doesn’t have the same quality sparring partners in Barranquilla. He’s a decent professional, but not in the same class as the younger man.
Don’t forget to check the live betting markets during this boxing match. If Pierce has early success, it may be easier to pick a round for him to get the finish. Alternatively, Sanmartin could start well making the odds of a comeback win for Pierce more appealing.
Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin Betting Tips
Pierce enters this boxing match as a big favourite against Sanmartin. It’s -900 for the American to overcome his Colombian opponent. This isn’t a lucrative enough result, especially because we think Sanmartin is a live underdog.
A $10 wager on Pierce would only make a $1.11 profit. This isn’t enough because these wide odds don’t reflect how dangerous this match-up is. We agree Pierce could win and should do so in style. But the knockdown in his last fight and Sanmartin’s veteran nous make him a risky opponent.
Some players may even like a +450 bet on Sanmartin to win outright. This would be a shock, but it’s tempting, with the chance of turning $10 into $55. Sanmartin’s most likely method of victory is by decision across 10 rounds.
If you are going to place a boxing bet, select Pierce’s method of victory to maximize your potential profit. We believe he will win this fight by knockout. This would make him only the third man to finish Sanmartin, so it won’t be straightforward. Sanmartin isn’t the type of fighter to wilt in the face of adversity.
However, Pierce can do it and should finish him between rounds six and eight. Another lucrative wager is over-under betting on this fight to go past 6.5 rounds. Most of Pierce’s finishes come early, but Sanmartin is tougher than these men. Selecting the round is the most profitable option, but it’s also risky.
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 🥶
Elijah Pierce vs. Jose Sanmartin headlines a show in Atlanta that includes the semi-finals of the OTX tournament 🏆#PierceSanmartin | Aug 30 | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/ivpQlEwrxL
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 7, 2024
We wouldn’t back Sanmartin to win by knockout because his finishing record isn’t impressive enough. He also doesn’t have KO wins over big names, so it wouldn’t be a smart bet unless you’re using our welcome bonus.
There are plenty of other exciting boxing matches this weekend on our sports betting platform. Some players may want to create a boxing parlay because betting on single favourites isn’t rewarding.
Naoya Inoue is a massive favourite against TJ Donehy in one of the most anticipated matches of the week. We’re picking ‘The Monster’ to beat his Irish opponent by a knockout. It’s +1150 for anyone betting on Donehy to win, with $10 potentially making a $115 profit.
Another intriguing fight sees Diego Pacheco fight Maciej Sulecki. Both men have championship aspirations, so there’s plenty at stake. You can bet on Pacheco, Inoue, and Pierce to win by KO for the best outcome.
Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin Outcome
Pierce knows a win will solidify him as a genuine contender at junior featherweight. He’s suffered some setbacks in his early career but is now enjoying tremendous momentum. A win over Sanmartin would be a statement of intent as he marches toward a title shot.
He enters this fight as Ring Magazine’s No. 9 ranked 122 lb fighter. His team may try to make a deal to fight Lorenzo Parra. That was meant to be his next fight, but it fell through. However, the former WBA flyweight titleholder is on a 14-fight losing streak, so that doesn’t make sense. Pierce is looking up the division.
Victory for Sanmartin will see him continue doing what he’s doing. The Colombian won’t get a title shot anytime soon, so he’ll try to make as much money as he can. Beating exciting prospects like Pierce is a good way to do it.
