Elijah Pierce Looks To Close Out The Year Strong in Oklahoma City

Elijah Pierce will not be letting just a few defeats earlier outline his profession. As an alternative, he’s now turning into one of many extra legit prospects within the junior featherweight division.

Pierce will face Jean Carlos Pena tonight at Farmers Public Market in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma. The six-round bout will stream reside on Fite.television (7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT).

In his final bout on October 15, Pierce (15-2, 13 knockouts), who resides in close by Midwest Metropolis, knocked out once-beaten Daron Williams within the second spherical. In his earlier battle on June 17, Pierce defeated Ryizeemmion Ford by majority choice. 

The 26-year-old has been very lively in 2023. Tonight will likely be Pierce’s fifth battle this yr. 

Pierce has received his final six bouts since a detailed, majority choice loss to Sulaiman Segawa in September 2019. He does have knockout victories over Irvin Gonzalez and Jesse Garcia, each of whom entered their respective fights towards Pierce unbeaten.

Co-manager Jessie Tanksley believes Pierce has gotten higher and has discovered from these defeats and has not but hit his peak. He desires Pierce to knock Pena out and ship a message to the remainder of the junior featherweight division.

“Elijah (has) manifested right into a legit prospect,” Tanksley informed BoxingScene Friday afternoon. “In actuality, he has a coronary heart of a champion. He’ll destroy his opponent Juan Pena (tonight).”

Pena (32-8, 23 KOs), who resides in Dominican Republic, misplaced by cut up choice to former world title challenger Stephon Younger in his final bout on June 11. The 34-year-old has misplaced his final 5 bouts, 4 by knockout.

In the primary occasion of the Maurice Williams-promoted card, Oklahoma Metropolis’s Bo Gibbs (23-3, 9 KOs) will face David Lujan in a six-round gentle heavyweight bout. 

Lujan (4-9 1 NC, 1 KO) final fought in September 2018, which was towards Gibbs. The bout was stopped within the opening spherical and was dominated a no-contest after an unintended conflict of heads produced a reduce over Lujan’s eye that prevented him from persevering with. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached by e-mail at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.