Some critics have called out WBA lightweight champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis for not facing the best. However, the pound-for-pound star could have his work cut out for him against the unbeaten Frank Martin at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on June 15.
The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will be streamed live on Prime Video.
WATCH: Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin on Prime Video
Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) is one of the hard-hitting fighters in boxing and his ring IQ is criminally underrated. A two-weight world champion, the Baltimore-born lefty will be making his 13th world championship appearance and he's coming off a spectacular body-shot knockout of Ryan Garcia last April.
"He's a front runner," Davis said of his challenger at the press conference announcing the fight. "He put on for the people that he come with here because they think they're 'thugs' and s*** like that, but I'm telling you, it's a different beast in front of him.
"Nobody that's walking with him, holding him hand-in-hand is going to be able to save him June 15th. I'm telling you. And it's a lot of s*** built up, a lot built up, and I'm going to take it out on him. Sorry, it's going to be him."
Tank, 29, seems very confident that Martin will go the way of all flesh. Is the champion overlooking his next opponent?
The Sporting News takes a closer look at Davis' next challenger.
Who is Frank Martin?
Known as "The Ghost", Martin was a Golden Gloves (2016) champion and he also took bronze at the National Championships that same year.
A quick-fisted southpaw, the Detroit-born boxer-puncher has won all 18 of his fights, with 12 of those victories coming by knockout. He is currently coached by former Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year Derrick James.
Since April 2021, Martin has taken a step up in terms of opposition and has remained largely dominant. The American has scored six straight wins, three by knockout, and two of the victories have been against unbeaten fighters.
Stylistically, Martin is an accurate, well-balanced stylist who can pack a punch. He's probably at his best on the outside and his signature shot is the straight left hand. If there's a flaw, it's that he can be drawn into a firefight, which is not always to his benefit.
In his most recent outing, last July, Martin was tested by German-based Armenian Artem Harutyunyan. However, the good news is that "The Ghost" rose to the occasion, scored a knockdown in the final round and earned the unanimous decision he was awarded.
This will not be the first time that Martin has shared a ring with Tank. The pair sparred at Floyd Mayweather's gym in Las Vegas and, not surprisingly, they have very different accounts of what transpired.
"I can show a lot of different looks," Martin told The Sporting News recently. "With me being fast, I can also hit a guy with shots they don't see.
"[Tank and I have] sparred a lot, as you know, and I've sparred guys with a lot of different styles. I'm a balanced fighter; I can do it all. It just depends on what presents itself and I'll execute the game plan my coach has got for me."
Can Martin spring the upset, or will Tank blow him away?
Frank Martin record, stats, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: January 12, 1995
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 18
- Record: 18-0 with 12 wins via knockout
MORE: SN's top-12 best pound-for-pound boxers
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, June 15
- Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena — Las Vegas
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. BST (Sun) | 10 a.m. AEST (Sun)
- How to watch: U.S.: Prime Video | PPV.com
- PPV Price: $74.99
- Prime Video: $8.99/month | Ad-free $11.98/month
- Prime Video with Prime membership: $14.99/month | Ad-free $17.98/month | $139/year
- U.K.: Prime Video (£20)
- AU: Kayo PPV ($49.95)
- Watch from anywhere via NordVPN (30-day money-back guarantee)
Davis vs. Martin is available on Prime Video in the U.S. Prime Video is available for existing Prime customers and those new to the platform. Subscribers can choose from multiple membership plans with discounts available for students.
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WATCH: Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin on Prime Video
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