By Jake Donovan

Looking to add to an already sold team, handlers for rising prospect Ryan 'Blue Chip' Martin have enlisted the services of renowned cornerman Russ Anber. 


"Russ can be a complete fit to our team. With Ryan moving up to eight round bouts it's essential for us to have our own cutman," notes Tim VanNewhouse, Martin's manager. "I've talked to Russ continouisly about Ryan since he first turned professional and I'm glad we finally can have him as a part of the corner."

Anber joins Team Martin as a cutman and assistant to head trainer Joe Delguyd. The move was in place for a while, but comes after the unbeaten lightweight's minor scare when he suffered a cut in an otherwise dominant stoppage win over Mikito Soto earlier this month in Puerto Rico.

There was concern that Martin (12-0, 7KOs) wouldn't be medically cleared to fight on May 9. It turned out to be a false alarm, but his team didn't want to wait any longer in bringing aboard Anber, regarded by many as the best handwrapper in the world as well as one of the best trainers over the course of his nearly four decades in the sport. 

Among his clients include recently crowned super middleweight titlist Badou Jack, as well as unbeaten heavyweight beltholder Deontay Wilder.

"I think Russ will be a valuable member of our team," Martin believes. "He's worked with the best in the world and I'm confident the chemistry will work well with me and my trainer."

Martin will next face Daniel Maldonado on the May 9 undercard in Houston.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox