Junior featherweight Elijah Pierce had to dig deep to secure a unanimous decision victory over Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin in the main event of OTX Boxing 10 at the OTE Arena on Friday night.
Pierce (20-2, 16 KOs) won by scores of 97-93, 97-93, and 99-91, overcoming a tough challenge from the 31-year-old Sanmartin (35-9-1, 21 KOs), who proved a difficult target and relentless pressure fighter.
From the opening bell, Sanmartin pressed the action, forcing Pierce, 27, to adjust and trade shots in close quarters. Pierce, who resides in Georgia, looked to establish his power but found it difficult to land cleanly against the compact and determined Sanmartin.
The second round saw Sanmartin gain momentum, throwing solid combinations that caught Pierce standing too tall on the inside. By the third, it was clear Pierce was in a real fight, as Sanmartin continued to march forward.
A low blow from Pierce midway through the fourth round briefly slowed Sanmartin’s attack, but the Colombian veteran Sanmartin quickly recovered, landing a big hook that visibly rocked Pierce. Despite this, Pierce maintained his composure and stood his ground in the later rounds, even as Sanmartin refused to back down, but Sanmartin did sit on the stool, something he didn’t do in the early rounds.
In the ninth round, Pierce began to impose his will, pushing Sanmartin onto the ropes and unloading punches. However, Sanmartin, known as “El General,” continued to have moments of success, exploiting Pierce’s technical flaws, as he would punch with him.
Pierce closed the fight with flashy movement in the final round, but Sanmartin absorbed the power shots, showcasing his toughness, and why the 45 fight veteran Sanmartin is who he is.
With the win, Pierce extends his win streak to 11 fights and moves closer to a major opportunity in the junior featherweight division. Sanmartin, now 1-3 in his last four bouts, remains a formidable and underrated opponent despite the recent losses.
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