Frank Martin, boasting an unblemished record of 18 wins in as many fights, is considered one of the top lightweights in recent years. However, his upcoming opponent, Gervonta Davis, has issued a stark warning, suggesting that Martin cannot afford to slack off in training, especially after seen partying with Ryan Garcia.

Scheduled to meet on June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title, the clash between Davis and Martin has already sparked controversy beyond the two fighters.

During a recent face-to-face encounter, defending champion “Tank” Davis raised concerns about Martin’s commitment, referencing his social activities with Garcia. Davis questioned, “Do you have the skills to do that?”

Tank questions his rival’s skills

“You’ve been with Ryan (Garcia)… been drinking, been out with him partying,”Davis stated. He continued, “Do you have the skills to be out partying and missing (training)?! You don’t have the skills to be doing that.”

Davis highlighted Martin’s late start in boxing, noting, “You started(boxing) when you were 15. If I started at 15… If I started when I was 15… I’m taking that sh*t off. I’m grinding (training all day), I ‘I’m grinding!”

In a press conference, Davis further dismissed Martin’s bravado, stating, “He put on for the people that he comes with here, because they think they’re ‘thugs’ and sh*t like that but I’m telling you, it’s a different beast in front of him.”

Asserting his dominance, Davis warned, “Nobody that’s walking with him, holding his hand, is going to be able to save him June 15th. I’m telling you. And it’s a lot of s**t built up, a lot built up, and I’m going to take it out on him. Sorry it’s going to be him.”

The Davis-Martin bout will headline a card featuring fights between David Benavidez and Oleksander Gvozdyk, the rematch of Edwin de los Santos and Jose Valenzuela, and Demetrius Andrade against David Morrell, among others.

It’s ‘Tank’-War now. After that sensational win over Ryan Garcia, which established him as one of the faces of boxing ‘abso-f**king-lutely’, Gervonta Davis returns to the ring on June 15. However, unlike the last match, when he fought a catchweight bout with Garcia, this time he has to defend his WBA lightweight title from Frank Martin. The sparring video of the two boxers had sparked controversy not long ago. They came face-to-face during the kick-off press conference for their match at the MGM Grand Arena.

Incidentally, the event is co-headlined by the fight for the WBC (interim) light heavyweight title between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. At the presser, the two 175-pounders went about their business in the most composed manner. However, Davis and Martin’s discussion was anything but collected and controlled. The reigning champion went straight after his challenger. It didn’t take him much time to raise his battle cry, reminding Martin about the storm he would face in June.

Gervonta Davis Throws the Gauntlet

Initially, it was all smiles. ‘Tank’, after the thank-you notes, spoke about David Benavidez. He revealed how he had been impressed by ‘The Monster’s performance against Caleb Plant. Davis touched base with his prison term and house arrest. He mentioned how happy he was with the comeback, doing what he loves to do. “I’m just happy to be back uh here where I’m comfortable at where I’m you know um I could be flawless, and you know, and do what I do best, and that’s uh give you fans the uh best boxing um you seen up to date you,” he said.

However, with that, the tone of the speech changed as it became more about Frank Martin. Calling his opponent a ‘front-runner’, Gervonta Davis took a dig at ‘The Ghost’ hanging around with a bunch of ‘thugs’. Nevertheless, it will be, he said, “a different beast in front of him; it’s a different beast in front of him.” Spilling out that come June 15, and all those who have been walking around with Martin won’t be able to save him from his wrath.

‘Tank’ laid it out coldly: “Nobody that’s walking with him holding him hand in hand is not going to be able to save from June the 15th telling you, and it’s a lot of sh*t built up lot built up and I’m going take it out on him. Sorry, it going to be him, I’m telling you.” Throughout, the audience could hear Frank Martin jutting in between his barbs.

Verbal Volley and Blast From the Past

Host Jimmy Lennon Jr. asked him how he’s going to stop Davis. ‘The Ghost’ replied, “I’ve been watching everything. I know how I know how his a*s walks. I’ve been watching everything. I mean, when we get, I’m touch. I’mma touch him up. I’m touch. His, that’s, I’m touch his a** up. Yeah, the one. I know how him and his whole team walk. I know how they all walk.”

Last year, a clip of Davis and Martin’s sparring session became a talking point. Reports filled in that the latter gave the champion stiff competition. It seems the incident took place at Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s gym. He had to borrow the gear to enable him to spar. However, when it finally happened, reportedly ‘The Ghost’ proved a tough nut to crack. When the situation between the two became a bit heated, others had to rush in to break them apart. Understandably, ‘Tank’ contended differently.

Frank Martin stands taller and enjoys a slight edge in reach vis-à-vis Gervonta Davis. But only time will tell whether he is able to use his advantages to put the brakes on the ‘Tank’ juggernaut. Otherwise, fans and followers can watch out for the latter’s caution. Past instances prove that he has the nasty habit of proving them true.

What’s your take on the June 15 fight? Do you think Martin has the wherewithal to turn the table on one of boxing’s hardest hitters?

Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David Benavidez will both return to the ring on June 15 in a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Davis will be facing Frank Martin, as expected, with Davis defending his WBA lightweight title. Benavidez is moving up to light heavyweight to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk, also as expected, for an interim WBC title.

The 29-year-old Davis (29-0, 27 KO) hasn’t fought since his Apr. 2023 knockout win over Ryan Garcia, while Martin (18-0, 12 KO), also 29, was last seen in July 2023, beating Artem Harutyunan in a fight that turned out more difficult than many expected.

“Tank” will absolutely be a massive favorite in this fight, but it really is about as good a fight as is out there for him right now, particularly considering he’s working in-house with PBC on fights.

Benavidez (28-0, 24 KO) has moved on from hoping he’ll land a fight at 168 with Canelo Alvarez, and will campaign at 175. The 27-year-old “Monster” physically dominated Demetrius Andrade last time out on Nov. 25, the headline fight of the final Showtime boxing pay-per-view.

The 37-year-old Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KO) retired after a thumping 2019 loss to Artur Beterbiev, but made sort of a soft return in early 2023, fighting three times on the year with wins over Josue Obando, Ricards Bolotniks, and Isaac Rodrigues.

Needless to say, Benavidez is a step back into the top level and a major leap in competition from those guys.

Though Frank Martin versus Gervonta Davis has not been confirmed, Martin last week did nothing to cool the rumors during Ryan Garcia’s public workout in Dallas.

There has been long-term speculation that the WBA lightweight world champion Davis will next fight Martin on Saturday, June 22, on Prime Video PPV.

Martin, 18-0 (12 KOs), a gym-mate of Garcia – who trains with Derrick James in Dallas, Texas – appeared at the gym during Garcia’s workout and the No. 2 contender for the lightweight world title held by Davis, 29-0 (27 KOs) hasn’t fought since last July, when he won a unanimous decision over Artem Harutyunyan.

Since that bout, Martin more rumors implied that he would face Shakur Stevenson, but the fight fell through. Now, the 29-year-old known as “The Ghost” could be getting a fight against one of boxing’s brightest stars in 29-year-old Davis.

“A lot of people are going to see the unexpected,” Martin said to FightHub TV. “Everybody knows who Tank [Gervonta Davis] is – he is a star. A lot of people don’t really know who I am in the boxing world.”

Martin views the potential fight as an opportunity and, with a nod to a rehydration clause that Garcia apparently suffered from when he fought Tank last April, Martin would not have to agree to the same terms.

Martin confirmed: “No rehydration clause or catchweight”, with a nodding approval, implying that it would be a standard lightweight bout.

“It is one of my opportunities for me to wake the world up,” added Martin.

Davis has not boxed since last April, when he knocked out Garcia in the seventh-round of their PPV hit.

Davis was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest as well as three years of probation after the fight, stemming from a Baltimore hit-and-run case. On June 1, 2023, Davis was deemed to have violated the terms of his house arrest and ordered to fulfil the remainder of his sentence behind bars and was released 44 days later – but he has yet to have a fight announced.

Martin made it clear that he has started preparation to face Davis, who is one of the biggest stars in the sport.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Frank Martin are set to collide for the WBA lightweight title this summer, and now the potential date of the fight has been revealed.

Davis is coming off an emphatic seventh-round stoppage over social media sensation Ryan Garcia –who himself is now training for his shot at the WBC world super lightweight title against Devin Haney on April 20.

Since that destructive performance in April last year, Davis has been linked with several names in other divisions, including Conor Benn, but has turned his attention to face Martin.

Martin shone in a scintillating performance against Michel Rivera back in 2022 when the American slickster showcased his refined skills, headlining his biggest show at the Chelsea Ballroom in Las Vegas.

In April last year, the 29-year-old returned to Sin City where he took on undefeated German Artem Harutyunyan coming away with a unanimous decision victory.

Esteemed coach Derrick James trains Martin, and he anticipates the Davis vs. Martin showdown will land on June 15, according to Boxing Scene.

It means that in the upcoming weeks and months, James will have his hands completely full, with Martin and also Garcia, another fighter trained by James, dialled in on the daunting tasks ahead of them.

The American coach looks to get back to winning ways, with his fighters Errol Spence Jr and Jermell Charlo both losing to pound-for-pound elites last year, with Spence beaten by Terence Crawford, and Charlo losing to Canelo Alvarez.

Frank Martin will enter the biggest fight in his life as he will face Gervonta Davis, now Abdul Wahid having converted to Islam. Although Martin has yet to taste professional defeat and won 66.67% of his fights via knockouts, several people feel Martin is a guaranteed win for Davis. But, what does Frank Martin have to say about Tank, the boxer he helped prepare for the Leo Santa Cruz fight?

In his latest interaction with FightHype, Eddie Hearn unabashedly branded Martin an easy win for Davis. However, Martin, who sparred with Tank, felt Davis was not the most powerful puncher in the sport. How do we know? Well, we stumbled upon an old clip of Frank Martin’s interaction with FightHype.

Frank Martin found Gervonta Davis “sharp”, but, not the most powerful puncher

Ahead of Gervonta Davis vs. Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA Super-Featherweight and Lightweight titles, Frank Martin sparred with Tank. After a session with Davis, Martin was interviewed by FightHype. While the sparring session was not filmed and made available for public consumption, the reporter regretted that people would not see the “amazing” session Martin and Davis had. Anyway, speaking about his experience with Gervonta Davis, Martin had said, “It was good work. I held my own, he held his. Good experience.”

“He’s sharp. I don’t think Leo gon’ have the speed or the reflexes. You gotta have some power. You gotta be able to hold your own in there because Tank’s a beast,” added Martin. However, Santa Cruz fought toe-to-toe against Gervonta Davis, throwing and landing more punches than Davis did. However, as Compubox reported it was Davis’ power and body attack which made the difference, leading Tank to a 6th-round KO win.

Anyway, ahead of the bout, Martin was asked if Gervonta Davis was the most powerful puncher he had come across in life. To which Martin answered in negative. “Nah, it’s a Mexican boxer I sparred [with]. His name is Pablo,” Martin had said.’

But, Martin had also concluded saying, “He got some power. He can crack. Good timing, sharp.” And as Martin had predicted, Gervonta Davis cracked Santa Cruz with a powerful left uppercut in one of the most entertaining rounds in boxing to win. With that said, what can you expect from the upcoming Cruz-Davis fight? Let us know in the comments below.

It,  has been confirmed to The Ring that Gervonta Davis will defend his WBA lightweight title against Frank Martin in late spring/early summer on Amazon Prime headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event on Pay-Per-View.

Davis hasn’t fought since his win over Ryan Garcia in a mega-event last April. The Baltimore native served 44 days in a detention center in June having violated terms to his 90-day house arrest at the home of his long-time trainer Calvin Ford. Davis had pled guilty to taking part in a car accident involving four people in November 2020.

Since his release, he has been linked to several possible fights, including a recent offer from Eddie Hearn to move up to welterweight and face Conor Benn. That always looked a stretch for Tank, who has long fought on the PBC umbrella.

Meanwhile, Martin was riding the crest of a wave and primed to face Shakur Stevenson last fall for the vacant WBC 135-pound belt. However, at the last minute he backed away from the deal and hasn’t fought since. While it was startling at the time, it always looked as though PBC had something up their sleeve for Martin, and a fight with Davis apparently made the most sense.

Davis (29-0, 27 knockouts), rated at No. 2 by The Ring at lightweight, impressively took the IBF 130-pound title from Jose Pedraza (TKO 7) in 2017. Since then, his star has risen and he is one of the most popular attractions in America, regularly selling out arenas across the country and performing on Showtime Pay-Per-View.

The 29-year-old owns a highlight-reel knockout over Leo Santa Cruz (KO 6) and showed that his vaunted power carries up in weight when he came on strong to stop the much larger Mario Barrios (TKO 11) at 140 pounds. More recently, he stopped WBA 130-pound titlist Hector Luis Garcia (TKO 9) and then dismantled Ryan Garcia (KO 7) in a fight that garnered 1.2 million PPVs.

Martin (18-0, 12 KOs), rated at No. 6 by The Ring at lightweight, won his first 11 fights and started working with then-unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. and his trainer Derrick James. The leg-up has benefited Martin, who has gone from strength to strength, taking the unbeaten record of Jerry Perez (KO 7), stopping one-time contender Romero Duno (TKO 4) and Jackson Marinez (TKO 10).

He was hugely impressive dominating Michel Rivera (UD 12) in a match up of unbeaten prospects. The 29-year-old southpaw had a harder time than expected and had to come on late to edge out Artem Harutyunyan (UD 12) last July.