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- Who: Elijah Pierce vs. Jose Sanmartin
- Date: Friday, August 30, 2024
- Time: 11:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, GA
- How to Watch: DAZN
An under-the-radar junior featherweight matchup takes place on Friday night in Atlanta when Elijah Pierce faces Jose Sanmartin at Overtime Elite Arena. This matchup was initially scheduled to take place in late June, but Pierce was forced out of the contest on weigh-in day due to illness. Pierce is a rising star in the 122-pound division, while Sanmartin is an experienced veteran who can give the younger fighter a good test inside the ring.
Elijah Pierce (19-2 with 16 knockouts) is the No. 8 fighter in the junior featherweight division, according to The Ring. The 27-year-old American is coming off a big knockout win over Arthur Villanueva in March. Pierce has not lost since Sulaiman Segawa defeated him via majority decision in 2019. He has won 10 fights since that setback.
Jose Sanmartin (35-8-1 with 21 KOs) has struggled as of late. He is 2-3 in his past five outings dating back to late 2022. However, Sanmartin is coming off a decision win over Mauricio Martinez in February.
Before we look at the junior featherweight matchup between Elijah Pierce and Jose Sanmartin, check out our guide to betting on boxing and check out our betting pick for the upcoming Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny title fight.
Elijah Pierce vs. Jose Sanmartin betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |
| Elijah Pierce | -900 | -900 | -900 |
| Jose Sanmartin | +450 | +450 | +450 |
Elijah Pierce betting breakdown
This fight marks another test for the young Elijah Pierce. He has faced adversity in his recent bouts, worked through those difficulties, and came out with wins at night’s end. Pierce has good athleticism. He packs power in his punches and isn’t afraid to make things physical if that’s what his opponent brings to the ring. He works angles well and attacks the head and body equally, and once he gets a read on his opponent’s timing and tendencies, he moves well and unloads impressive combinations.
Pierce can also be a fun fighter and play to the crowd, but that can get him in trouble as he sometimes leaves his head on the centerline too much. As he moves up the rankings, he needs to be more aware of his defense and footwork, or he will get caught by more seasoned foes.
As fights wear on, Pierce starts to throw heavier punches and put together more combinations, look for him to follow this plan against Sanmartin
Jose Sanmartin
Jose Sanmartin might have eight losses in his career, with three coming recently, but don’t let that record fool you; he is a tough fighter with the heart to go along with his talents. He has only been stopped twice in his long career, with one of those stoppages coming at the hands of Emanuel Navarrete in 2018.
For Sanmartin to succeed against Pierce, he needs to set the pace, use his veteran savvy, mix up his attacks, and stay out of the pocket as much as he can. Sanmartin needs to give Pierce respect and not fight with his ego. His best bet is to use distance management well, dart in and out, and fight behind his jab. He must make himself hard to hit and use angles to enter and exit.
Another thing to consider for Sanmartin is that his most recent fight was at 135 pounds. Going back down to 122 at 33 years of age could leave Sanmartin sapped of energy.
Best bets for Elijah Pierce vs. Jose Sanmartin
Look for Elijah Pierce to use his hand speed, power and aggression to pick up another knockout victory when he faces Jose Sanmartin in Atlanta.
The betting pick is for Pierce to win via knockout in the second half of the bout.
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