He just wasn't getting the opportunities to cash in on it.

So Martin rebuilt the team around him. The 31-year-old from Indianapolis is no longer tied to Errol Spence as a promoter fighting on Premier Boxing Champions cards.

Instead, Martin (19-1-1, 13 KOs) signed a promotional deal with Top Rank in July and a managerial deal with Fighters First Management in June. Martin's moves followed a split from longtime trainer Derrick James last year.

"The Ghost" has been coached by Buddy McGirt over his last two fights, a brutal knockout win against Rances Barthelemy in December and a unanimous draw against Nahir Albright last time out in February.

Martin is now gearing up for his third fight in 10 months as he faces Tarik Zaina (18-3-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight Saturday on the undercard of the junior lightweight title unification clash between Emanuel Navarrete and O'Shaquie Foster at Frost Bank Arena in San Antonio on DAZN. (8 p.m. ET; 1 a.m. BST)

"I signed with Top Rank because they are going to give me the activity that I want and need," Martin told The Ring. "The fans want to see me fight more. A lot of times they think fighters don't want to fight. Naw, it ain't that.

"The more active a fighter is, the more you'll get out of him. Fighting once a year doesn't help a fighter. The more active you are, the sharper and fresher you are."

Fighting twice over 10 weeks against Barthelemy and Albright was exactly what Martin needed after sitting on the sidelines for an extended period following his eighth-round knockout loss against Gervonta Davis in June 2024.

Martin said the recently retired Spence supported his desire to maneuver his career as needed.

"EJ was supportive of the decision I made. I told him that I wanted to do something different, and he wished me the best," Martin said.

"And now, Buddy is bringing my slick side back out. Derrick's training style was great, but I felt like it took away a bit of my athleticism. I can train and fight any style that I am coached in. With Buddy, it's a blend of everything, offensively and defensively."

For his fight against Zaina, Martin is facing a well-traveled opponent without a signature win in his six-year career. Zaina is a 31-year-old Moroccan based in the UK who's built his record against obscure opposition across Mexico, Colombia, Pakistan, and Gibraltar. When Zaina stepped up against top competition in the United States, he lost a pair of eight-round unanimous decisions against Delante "Tiger" Johnson and Rohan Polanco in 2024.

With a win against Zaina, Martin is zeroing in on a more solid standing in the division and an eventual shot at the IBF belt, which will be up for grabs on October 31 when Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov square off for the vacant title.

"Getting that belt will give me better leverage," Martin said. "I'm with it for any big names after that. That's the path that I want to go on right now."

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan