Pierce vs Sanmartin Predictions: Elijah can profit against ‘El General’

Elijah Pierce takes on veteran Jose Sanmartin this Friday, June 28 from the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This super bantamweight contest will be broadcast live on DAZN with the WBA Continental Americas title on the line.

Overtime Boxing is one of many concepts in the game today that is attempting to tap into social media in order to modernise the sport. Fighters’ personal stories are shared online in videos and social media stars like DeenTheGreat are sought to appeal to a younger demographic. Think Misfits but the fights are true professional contests between legitimate boxers. 

It’s a noble pursuit in a way, to try and create interest around proper boxers and not YouTubers in need of a few quid. Accoutrements like the WBC-endorsed OTX championship that Pierce holds are meaningless and counterproductive. But the broad gameplan of engaging young people in boxing through familiar avenues on social media is a solid one.

Ultimately the plan falls down if the fights don’t deliver, but this looks like a decent if unspectacular match-up. Pierce risked sacrificing his right to be called a prospect in losses to Giovani Cabrera and Sulaiman Segawa. But he has gone unbeaten in 10 fights since, including an impressive points win over former world title challenger Tramaine Martin.

The Pierce rebuild has seen him enter the world rankings. The Ring have him at ninth in their ratings. The WBA have placed him fourth while the WBO currently rank the southpaw seventh. Pierce is living proof that there is life after losing your ‘0’.

Sanmartin is another fighter who has bounced back from defeat. Eight of them to be exact. Too good to be a journeyman, ‘El General’ has always existed in that vital boxing domain of the gatekeeper. 

Former and future world champions have beaten Sanmartin. Emmanuel Navarette and Mauricio Lara both hold knockout wins over the Colombian. Unbeaten prospects like Kevin Gonzalez and Shabaz Masoud have sharpened their tools against him. But you have to be good to get something from the 31-year-old.

Pierce looks good, though he is overdue another step-up I feel. He has rebuilt his reputation well, returning to world level. But he is yet to defeat anyone who genuinely belongs at the top of the sport. Sanmartin is not a fighter of that nature, but rather the sort that those truly elite fighters feast on. The pressure is on for Pierce to do the same before seeking greater challenges.

Pierce vs Sanmartin Fight Odds

Pierce is unlikely to be troubled here, a fact that is reflected in his 1/6 odds for a victory. Sanmartin lags behind at 4/1, a price reflective of the fact he has at least mixed with top names. The draw can be backed at 16/1.

Pierce vs Sanmartin Full Card

Elijah Pierce vs Jose Sanmartin 

Lorenzo Simpson vs Raiko Santana 

Donte Layne vs Montrel James 

Tiara Brown vs Gabriela Bouvier 

Maliek Montgomery vs Cesar Juarez 

Gerald McClellan Jr. vs Casey Dixon

Pierce vs Sanmartin Prediction

If you’ll forgive the alliteration, Pierce can punch. The Oklahoma native has 16 KOs in his 19 victories. Meanwhile, against better fighters Sanmartin has gone down inside the distance. I feel like the Colombian is about to suffer his third career knockout here. 

I’m taking Pierce by knockout at a price of 5/6. This one has come at the right time for the rising star. He can use the respected gatekeeper as a stepping stone to reach the next level.

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