Elijah Pierce's recent performance against Michael Dasmarinas in Atlanta showcased his unwavering resolve, as he triumphed in a dramatic featherweight showdown. Despite facing an early knockdown and employing an unconventional strategy, Pierce's relentless power and stamina ultimately secured a decisive ninth-round stoppage. This victory not only adds to his impressive record but also reinforces his reputation as a captivating and persistent presence in the boxing world, setting the stage for future high-stakes encounters.

The OTX main event at The Tabernacle saw Pierce and Dasmarinas engage in an electrifying southpaw battle. In the opening round, Pierce endured a significant setback, hitting the canvas after being caught by a precise straight left from Dasmarinas. This moment, occurring at the 2-minute and 1-second mark of the first round, highlighted the immediate challenge Pierce faced. Yet, the Oklahoma City fighter quickly regained his composure, signaling his readiness to continue the fight to referee Malik Waleed. His post-fight remarks to DAZN underscored his fighting spirit: “Sometimes we go through adversity… Nobody’s gonna beat me. You’re not stopping me. I don’t care who you with. Step in the ring with me. I’m gonna put you on your ass.”

Dasmarinas, hailing from the Philippines, initially capitalized on Pierce's shaky start, launching body attacks followed by headshots as the round concluded. Despite Dasmarinas’ respectable knockout rate, his inability to convert early advantages into sustained dominance became evident. Possessing a four-inch reach advantage, the younger and more explosive Dasmarinas frequently lunged and threw single punches, failing to fully leverage his physical attributes. Ironically, Dasmarinas adopted a tactical approach more fitting for Pierce, utilizing jabs to set up strategic body attacks and varying levels to keep his opponent off balance.

Pierce's initial rounds were marked by a noticeable sluggishness and uncertainty, making it difficult for him to establish control. Even into the fourth round, Dasmarinas appeared to maintain an edge, landing unanswered combinations just before the bell. With a 10-8 lead from the first round, Dasmarinas had built a significant head start, while Pierce seemed to be running out of time. The fifth round saw Pierce continue to struggle, waiting for opportunities rather than creating them. He frequently swung wildly, dropped his guard when Dasmarinas retaliated, and emerged from the round with a cut from an accidental clash of heads.

Pierce acknowledged his initial struggles, stating, “The whole thing was, we did have a different game plan. I was supposed to move a lot more, [and] I did feel sluggish. … I can't make excuses. I'm still working. I'm still learning a lot of stuff. This is the game – you gotta learn.” However, as the fight progressed, the stamina of the 28-year-old Pierce began to contrast sharply with that of the 32-year-old Dasmarinas. Pierce's powerful punches and relentless pressure started to wear down his opponent. A pivotal shift occurred in the seventh round when Pierce began to effectively utilize his jab, landing sharp blows to Dasmarinas’ face. Dasmarinas, who had previously shown excellent footwork and defensive angles, was visibly slowing down, opting for clinches and struggling to avoid punches. This allowed Pierce to land more precise and powerful body shots, further compounding Dasmarinas’ fatigue. During a late break, Dasmarinas was seen breathing heavily, spitting out water mixed with blood, indicating the toll the fight was taking on him.

In the climactic ninth round, Pierce unleashed a ferocious assault. He opened with a right hook to the body, though Dasmarinas responded with a crisp left cross. However, Dasmarinas's mobility was significantly compromised, making him a stationary target for Pierce's heavy blows. An uppercut to Dasmarinas’ solar plexus sapped his remaining energy, and Pierce relentlessly pursued him to the ropes, unleashing a four-punch combination that culminated in a right hook to Dasmarinas’ temple. When Dasmarinas attempted to clinch, Pierce delivered another left hook, and it became clear that Dasmarinas was nearing his breaking point. Pierce continued his attack, bouncing Dasmarinas off the ropes, leading to the Filipino collapsing to all fours, utterly exhausted. After a brief reprieve from referee Waleed, Pierce seized the moment, driving a forceful right hand into Dasmarinas’ midsection, instantly followed by a hook that spun Dasmarinas’ head and sent him sprawling to the canvas, ending the fight. Pierce attributed this surge of aggression to his father’s words of encouragement: “All he had to do was tell me, ‘Son, go fucking get him. Go get him.’ As soon as he told me that, I had to hit the switch in my mind, my heart and I had to turn it on. I got him out of there.”

For Dasmarinas, now with a record of 36-5-2 (25 KOs) and having suffered his second consecutive loss, his future in boxing is uncertain, particularly after enduring another concussive knockout. Meanwhile, Pierce, boasting a record of 21-2 (17 KOs), is already looking toward his next challenges. He has expressed a strong desire to face top-tier featherweight champions like Stephen Fulton and Nick Ball, and even reiterated his ambition to fight Naoya Inoue, asserting, “I want to fight the best. And ain’t nothing wrong with me wanting to challenge the best. I feel like I am the best, and I want to step in there and prove it. I’ll fight any-damn-body.” This decisive victory against Dasmarinas underscores Pierce’s determination to prove himself among boxing’s elite.