Elijah Pierce KOs Michael Dasmarinas in Round 9, but respect reigns after featherweight war

All was well that ended well between Elijah “The Wolf” Pierce and Filipino warrior Michael Dasmarinas following their high-octane featherweight showdown Saturday (Manila time) at the OTX Arena at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia.

While Pierce emerged as the new WBO International Featherweight Champion with a devastating ninth-round knockout, both fighters showed mutual respect after the bout—sharing smiles and even hot sauce.

A photo shared by Viva Promotions shows Pierce and Dasmarinas posing post-fight:

“Elijah Pierce X Michael Dasmariñas after an intense battle! ”

Another heartwarming moment came when Pierce’s daughter gifted Dasmarinas her custom-made hot & spicy sauce after the bout:

But before the sportsmanship, there was war in the ring.

Despite getting knocked down in the first round, Pierce turned the tables with a brutal one-punch KO at the 2:01 mark of Round 9.

“KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR?! THE WXXXLF ELIJAH PIERCE WITH A DEVASTATING ONE-PUNCH KNOCKOUT OVER MICHAEL DASMARIÑAS! ”

In his post-fight interview with DAZN, Pierce remained defiant and confident.

“Sometimes we go through adversity,” he said. “That’s the life of a fighter, and I’m gonna continue to fight every single time. Nobody is gonna deter me. I keep saying it over and over: 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.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In Round 1, Dasmarinas (from Pili, Camarines Sur) stunned Pierce with a straight left after a mistimed right hook, sending the American briefly to the canvas. Pierce rose, regrouped, and re-engaged with steely focus.

Dasmarinas tested Pierce with persistent body work and headshots in the early rounds, while Pierce struggled to establish rhythm—often lunging with single punches. Interestingly, it was Dasmarinas who employed the cleaner tactics, using the jab and level changes that should’ve been part of Pierce’s game.

Still, youth, explosiveness, and a 4-inch reach advantage eventually turned the tide in Pierce’s favor.

The post Elijah Pierce KOs Michael Dasmarinas in Round 9, but respect reigns after featherweight war first appeared on Fastbreak.