
Hans Themistode
Jan 20, 2026
1 min read
Frank Martin produced a nominee for The Ring's "Knockout of the Year" award for 2025 when he knocked Rances Barthelemy unconscious in the fourth round December 6 in San Antonio.
Frank Martin isn’t the most active fighter around, but he desperately wants that to change.
He feels fighting just once a year won’t allow him to go to the next level. In part, the 30-year-old former lightweight title challenger blames his consistent time on the shelf for his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in June 2024.
Martin fought well against Davis. However, Davis eventually floored him with a straight left hand in the eighth round, leaving him down and out in front of a jam-packed crowd at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Following that defeat, Martin spent roughly a year-and-a-half on the sidelines. Nevertheless, he recently bounced back with a highlight-reel stoppage of Rances Barthelemy on the Isaac Cruz-Lamont Roach undercard December 6 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
Although winning his junior welterweight debut was fairly recent, Martin is ready to get back out there as soon as possible.
“I’m itching to get back active,” Martin wrote on his Instagram page.
In his ideal world, Martin (19-1, 13 KOs) would challenge IBF 140-pound champion Richardson Hitchins. The two have gone back and forth in recent interviews and on social media.
Despite Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) showing clear interest and telling Martin that he’s willing to give him a shot, the 28-year-old Brooklyn native is currently negotiating a deal to face Oscar Duarte.
With Hitchins seemingly off the table, Martin has expressed a desire to face any of the current champions. All, however, are either busy or healing up.
Subriel Matias lost his WBC strap to Dalton Smith, who knocked out Matias in the fifth round January 10 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Teofimo Lopez will put his Ring and WBO belts on the line against Shakur Stevenson in the main event of “The Ring 6” on January 31 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. And Gary Antuanne Russell is likely to defend his WBA title against Andy Hiraoka next.
analysis
Noticias de combate

Hans Themistode

Next
Sam Hickey: Boxing is like trying to break down a wall
Can you beat Coppinger?
Lock in your fantasy picks on rising stars and title contenders for a shot at $100,000 and exclusive custom boxing merch.

Partners









































