A one-time title challenger will meet a former titlist at the crossroads.
Frank Martin will end the longest layoff of his eight-year career when he meets Rances Barthelemy in a junior welterweight contest on the undercard of the Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman pay-per-view event on October 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Martin himself confirmed both his placement on the show and Barthelemy as the opponent.
It will mark the first ring appearance for Martin, 18-1 (12 KOs) since his eighth-round knockout defeat to Gervonta “Tank” Davis last June 15, also at MGM Grand. Martin was competitive – until he wasn’t, as Davis delivered yet another highlight reel knockout victory to retain his WBA 135lbs title.
The feat marked Davis’ last win. He fought Lamont Roach Jnr to a draw on March 1 in Brooklyn, New York.
Martin, 30, will be 16 months inactive by the time he enters the ring in October. It will also mark his first fight since an amicable split with longtime trainer Derrick James. He is now working with Hall of Fame former two-division champion James “Buddy” McGirt.
Barthelemy, 30-3-1 (15 KOs), has endured an even longer period away from the ring. The 39-year-old Cuban, now based in Las Vegas, has not fought since an April 2024 decision defeat to former unified 140lbs titlist Jose Ramirez on the road in Fresno, California.
The setback saw Barthelemy suffer his second defeat in a span of three fights. He was stopped in the sixth round of a July 2022 clash with then-unbeaten Gary Antuanne Russell, now a WBA 140lbs titlist. He rebounded from the lone stoppage loss of his career with a ten-round, majority decision over Omar Juarez on a May 2023 Showtime card from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
At his peak, Barthelemy held the IBF lightweight title. He made one successful defense of the belt before he opted to move up to 140lbs in 2016. However, he has endured all four career blemishes in just nine fights during that nine-year span.
The fight's exact placement on the card was not yet confirmed as this goes to publication. However, it is believed that the bout will top a Prime Video preliminary undercard before the PPV portion goes live.
