Frank Martin believes that a rise in weight will mark a return to form.
The southpaw from Indianapolis, who will make his 140lbs debut on December 6 against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy, believes he will be turning over a new leaf with a new team and in a new weight class.
“At 140 I’m going to be stronger, faster and basically back where I’m supposed to be at,” said Martin, 18-1 (12 KOs), who is now trained by former world champion James “Buddy” McGirt .
“I stack up with anyone in the division. I’m just going to show it all on fight night and again and again every time I get into the ring. The loss didn’t make me lose my confidence. I just gotta get back there and punch on someone to let people see where I’m supposed to be.”
The 30-year-old Martin will be fighting for the first time since losing by eighth round knockout to Gervonta “Tank” Davis in June of 2024. Prior to the defeat, Martin had been a rising star in the lightweight division, defeating unbeaten fighters Michel Rivera and Artem Harutyunyan in back-to-back fights heading into his first major fight.
Now, facing Barthelemy, 30-3-1 (15 KOs), on the Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach card at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Martin has an opportunity to show he belongs at the world stage. Barthelemy, a former IBF lightweight and junior featherweight champion, has shown some signs of slipping, having lost two of his last three bouts to Gary Antuanne Russell and Jose Carlos Ramirez. The 40-year-old from Cuba has not fought since April of 2024.
“I’ve always seen Barthelemy as an awkward fighter,” said Martin. “He’s long, he’s tough and he’s tricky. He’s been a world champion in multiple divisions, so I know he’s not a walkthrough. I have to go out there and put on a demonstration.
“I’m going to show him that it’s over with for him. Now that they’ve matched me up with him, I’m gonna show him that Father Time has caught up to him. I’m seeing a stoppage win for me in this one. I’m not going to force anything. I just want the stoppage to come to me and come from the work that I put in.”
Martin says the adjustments he has made in his career will make him a more dynamic fighter to watch.
“I’ve been letting my hands go, not throwing just one or two shots, but four and five punch combinations. My hands have been flying and I’m sitting on those shots. They’re crisp combinations. This is our first fight together [with McGirt], but I feel like a lot is going to show,” said Martin.
