Frank Martin is less than a week away from the biggest fight of his life, a contest he believes will change everything.
Martin will face WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 29-year-old Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) will experience at least firsts: his first world title fight and his first time headlining a pay-per-view. And should he emerge victorious, he’ll be the first to beat the 29-0 (27 KOs) Davis.
“Tank” is considered the face of boxing for the next generation of American fight fans. While Canelo Alvarez might still be the sport’s biggest star, Davis’ rise to the top is undeniable, evidenced by this being his seventh consecutive fight on pay-per-view.
Martin is eager for this moment, both for his legacy and to make a name for himself in the sport.
“I feel like this is one of those moments where all the hard work I put in is paying off,” Martin said at his media workout. “This just feels like a life-changing moment.”
Martin, a self-admitted late starter who walked into a boxing gym at 17, but took the sport seriously at 18, is no stranger to being the underdog. He fought regionally for most of his career before teaming up with trainer Derrick James with whom he gained national exposure.
Martin’s breakthrough came in 2022 when he won a unanimous decision over then-undefeated Michel Rivera in a fight viewed as a stepping stone to becoming a top contender in the lightweight division.
Though he is the same age as Davis, their paths have been vastly different. Martin started as a regional attraction and clawed his way up, while Davis, a top amateur with tremendous professional potential, captivated audiences early on becoming the name he is today.
“I believe in myself, even if the world is against me,” said Martin, who enters the fight as a four-and-a-half to one underdog according to some oddsmakers. “It’s just time for me to show up and show out.”
Despite a nearly 14-month layoff, Martin expects the best version of Davis, who has a 93 per cent knockout ratio. Martin believes that on fight night, the world will remember his name for this performance.
“We all know what ‘Tank’ brings, but a lot of guys don’t know what I bring,” Martin said. “They know a little bit of it, but they don’t know the full arsenal I have.”
“We know ‘Tank’ is explosive and fast,” Martin added. “He’s got it all, but on fight night, the world will see that I’ve got it all, too.”