# Elijah Pierce (boxer)

Elijah Pierce (born September 30, 1996) is an American super bantamweight division contender and professional boxer.

## Amateur career

Pierce, born in Midwest City, Oklahoma, fought in regional championships at the United States as an amateur, he gained victories against a handful of boxers such as former World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion Rolando Romero, he also has plenty of losses, with the likes of Hector Tanajara Jr.. He also fondly recalls a rivalry with top prospect Bruce Carrington in an interview.

## Professional career
### Early years

On July 23, 2016, Pierce began his professional career as a lightweight and made his debut match against Deartie Tucker in Remington Park, Oklahoma City. In the fight, Tucker weighed 139 pounds (63.05 kilograms), whilst Pierce weighed 5 pounds (2.27 kilograms) lighter, Pierce won via 1st round TKO, finishing the bout within 2 minutes and 49 seconds.
Pierce moved down to the super featherweight division in his third bout against debutant Xavier Siller, Pierce won via third round TKO. Pierce returned to the lightweight division against journeyman Anthony Dave he would move back to the lightweight division in a victory against journeyman Anthony Dave, Pierce won via second-round KO, on his next bout, however, Pierce moved down division again defeating undefeated Mexican Calendario Alejandro Rochin.

#### Pierce vs. Cabrera

After amassing a record of 8–0, 7 KOs, Pierce moved to the featherweight division. On June 9, 2018, Pierce gambeld his undefeated status against fellow undefeated compatriot Giovanni Cabrera at the Emerald Queen Casino located in Tacoma, Washington, Pierce concedes his first loss as Cabrera scores a 10-round unanimous decision victory.

#### Pierce vs. Gonzalez

11 months later, on May 17, 2019, Pierce was scheduled against 12–0, 9 KOs prospect Irvin Gonzalez, prior to the fight, Pierce was a +1000 underdog, Pierce proved the odds-maker wrong as scored a huge upset, dropping Gonzalez two times in the opening round en route to stopping Gonzalez in the third round.

#### Pierce vs. Segawa

On September 28, 2019, Pierce was matched against Ugandan prospect Sulaiman Segawa, Pierce lost for the second time with a close majority decision, whilst Segawa improved to 13 wins with 2 defeats.
After improving to 12–2, 11 KOs, Pierce fought undefeated Jesse Garcia who used to be promoted by Top Rank on June 4, 2022 in Houston, Texas, Pierce wins via 3rd round TKO. Supposedly, Pierce was to fight Filipino regional challenger Joseph Ambo, however, the bout wasn't continued, Pierce instead fought American Ryizeemmion Ford, Pierce won via majority decision.
On October 15, 2022 in Live! Casino & Hotel, Hanover, Maryland, Pierce won the vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title on Pierce's debut in the super bantamweight division with a second-round knockout against Washington D.C.-based Daron Williams. On November 19, 2022, Pierce defeated veteran Juan Carlos Peña via 2nd round TKO in Oklahoma City.

### Rise up the ranks
#### Pierce vs. Williams

On April 22, 2023, Pierce was scheduled with former WBO World title-challenger Tramaine Williams for the vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight strap in a 10-rounder bout in Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, Pierce upsets Williams scoring a unanimous decision victory with 2 judges scoring 97–93 and 1 judge scoring 96–94.

#### Pierce vs. Plania

On August 4, 2023, Pierce dueled Filipino challenger and former IBF North American champion Mike Plania to headline Overtime Elite-based Overtime Boxing (OTX) Summer Boxing Series in Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta, Georgia. After Plania being in much control of the fight, Pierce bounced back with a one-punch KO in the third round that concluded the fight.

#### Pierce vs. Villanueva

On March 29, 2024, Pierce fought ex-ALA Promotions stalwart ring veteran Arthur Villanueva in Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, Pierce survived a second-round knockdown, but Pierce was able to stand up and avenged the ensuing round, eventually, Pierce stopped Villanueva in the fourth round.

#### Pierce vs. Sanmartin

On August 30, 2024, Pierce was scheduled against Colombian veteran Jose Sanmartin for the vacant WBA Continental Americas super bantamweight title, Pierce won via unanimous decision.

## Professional boxing record

| 22 fights | 20 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 16 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | José Sanmartín | UD | 10 | Aug 30, 2024 | Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Won vacant WBA Continental Americas super bantamweight title |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Arthur Villanueva | TKO | 4 (8), 2:57 | Mar 29, 2024 | Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Mike Plania | KO | 3 (8), 0:22 | Aug 4, 2023 | Overtime Elite Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Tramaine Williams | UD | 10 | Apr 22, 2023 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Juan Carlos Peña | TKO | 2 (6), 2:17 | Nov 19, 2022 | Farmer's Market, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 15–2 | Daron Williams | KO | 2 (8), 1:43 | Oct 15, 2022 | Live! Casino & Hotel, Hanover, Maryland, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | Ryizeemmion Ford | MD | 6 | Jun 17, 2022 | Euclid Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Jesse Garcia | TKO | 3 (8), 1:08 | Jun 4, 2022 | GSH Events Center, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Luis Valdés Peña | KO | 1 (6), 0:39 | Mar 12, 2022 | Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Mike Fowler | TKO | 2 (6), 1:19 | Aug 14, 2021 | World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Anthony Zender | TKO | 2 (6), 2:50 | Mar 27, 2021 | Cosmopolitan Lounge, Decatur, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 11 | Loss | 9–2 | Sulaiman Segawa | MD | 8 | Sep 28, 2019 | Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Lost WBC Silver featherweight title |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Irvin Gonzalez | TKO | 3 (8), 2:12 | May 17, 2019 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Silver featherweight title |
| 9 | Loss | 8–1 | Giovanni Cabrera | UD | 10 | Jun 9, 2018 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Anthony Napunyi | KO | 4 (6), 1:10 | Nov 4, 2017 | Buckhead Fight Club, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Divante Jones | RTD | 3 (6), 3:00 | Sep 2, 2017 | Laney High School, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Calendario Alejandro Rochin | UD | 6 | May 6, 2017 | Capitol Hill High School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Anthony Dave | KO | 2 (4), 2:57 | Apr 1, 2017 | Tara Center, Jonesboro, Georgia, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Demetrius Wilson | KO | 4 (4), 1:41 | Feb 4, 2017 | Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Xavier Siller | TKO | 3 (4), 2:00 | Jan 19, 2017 | Criterion Event Center, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Antonio Cruz | TKO | 4 (4), 2:40 | Oct 1, 2016 | Firelake Arena, Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Deartie Tucker | TKO | 1 (4), 2:49 | Jul 23, 2016 | Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |