Ryan Martin, K2 Promotions Discussing Long-Term Deal

By Steve Kim

It's been almost a year since lightweight prospect Ryan 'Blue Chip' Martin has seen live action. Martin has been sidelined as he was caught up in the mess that was SMS Promotions of 50 Cent, which has basically shuddered it's operation as a boxing promoter.

As he finally worked out a release from SMS Promotions, he was added to this weekends show at the Forum in Inglewood, California on the Gennady Golovkin-Dominick Wade card that is under the auspices of K2 Promotions.

The 23-year old Martin feels like a free man.

"Oh yes, most definitely [I feel like a free man]. It's good to be back on a stage like this. It's exciting,'' he said on Thursday afternoon after the final press conference at the LAX Sheraton Hotel.

Martin, who last fought on May 9th of 2015, said of his layoff - "I never gave up hope. I have a good team. It was very frustrating to be on the road with fights and then all of a sudden - nothing. But to be still training, I knew I was going to get back. It was just a matter of when."

Tim Van Newhouse, who manages Martin, says that the hope is to work out a long-term deal with K2."Tom (Loeffler) took a good notice of Ryan, he's been following him since probably he was 2-0, 3-0 and finally since the release we're negotiating in good faith to be a part of the K2 family."

For Martin - who is matched with Rosbel Montoya (16-7-1) - this doesn't feel like the re-start of his career.

"It feels like I'm a new 'Blue Chip', I worked on a lot of different skills and I can't wait to showcase them."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.